GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA

SAMOA BUREAU OF STATISTICS

IN-DEPTH COUNTRY ASSESSMENT OF THE NATIONALSYSTEM OF AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL STATISTICS IN

SAMOA

(Carried out under the Global Strategy to ImproveAgricultural and Rural Statistics)

November 2014

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FOREWORDBY

THE GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN OF THE SAMOA BUREAU OF STATISTICS AND CHIEFEXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIESThe Samoa Bureau of Statistics in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries ispleased to present the In-depth Country Assessment Report (IdCA 2014) for Agriculture andRural Statistics in Samoa. The IdCA report is deemed very essential as it provides thebenchmarks for developing Strategic Plans for Agriculture and Rural Statistics (SPARS) forSamoa.The Government of Samoa’s Strategy for the Development of Samoa (SDS 2012 – 2016), with itsvision of “boosting productivity for sustainable development”, recognized agriculture as one ofthe key productive sectors driving the economy.The creation of an Agriculture Sector Plan (ASP 2011 - 2015) coupled with an existing NationalStatistical Development Strategy in place (Samoa Strategy for the Development of Statistics2011 – 2021) has helped Samoa to establish the necessary framework to support thedevelopment of agriculture and rural statistics. To formulate effective policies, good datasupport systems are essential. Timely and reliable data and information help us understandcritical issues, design appropriate interventions and efficiently monitor programs and policies.This IdCA report provides an insight into the challenges in agricultural and rural statistics in thecountry and pinpoints the inputs, processes and outputs for bringing improvement in them. Italso provides benchmark for monitoring and evaluation of the impact and outcome of thesupport to be provided for improvement in agriculture and rural statistics.The IdCA report is the result of intensive studies conducted using FAO’s standard methods ofcountry assessment concerning agricultural and rural statistics. Slight modifications werehowever, integrated into the study to fit our own context and address our need. Intensivedeliberations took place over the findings and recommendations of the IdCA report amongstakeholders that produce and use agriculture data.The Samoa Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries would like to thank theUnited Nations Food and Agricultural Organization for its generous support. We would also liketo acknowledge the unwavering hard work and contributions put in by stakeholders in bringingout this report.This assessment report is intended to be used as an authentic reference document by theagriculture sector, other relevant government agencies and international community interestedin the development of agriculture and rural statistics in preparing proposals and action plans. Itis our hope that this report will lead to development of practical agriculture statistical plans andcontribute to informed decision making towards poverty alleviation and improving foodsecurity in the country.

Muagututi’a Sefuiva Reupena Fonoiava Sealiitu SesegaGOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

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CONTENTSFOREWORD..........................................................................................................................................................................II

ACRONYMS ........................................................................................................................................................................... V

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................................................VI

COUNTRY CAPACITY INDICATORS .............................................................................................................................IX

CHAPTER 1........................................................................................................................................................................... 1

INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................................................. 11.1. THE GLOBAL STRATEGY TO IMPROVE AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL STATISTICS................................................................. 11.2 IN-DEPTH COUNTRY ASSESSMENT (IDCA).................................................................................................................................. 21.2.1. Background and Scope ..................................................................................................................................................... 21.2.2. Process followed.................................................................................................................................................................. 21.2.3. Workshops, meetings and interviews held ............................................................................................................... 3

CHAPTER 2........................................................................................................................................................................... 4

THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IN SAMOA .................................................................................................................. 42.1. OVERVIEW OF THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR............................................................................................................................... 42.1.1. Crops ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 52.1.2. Livestock................................................................................................................................................................................. 52.1.3. Fishing..................................................................................................................................................................................... 62.1.4. Employment and Agriculture Household Activity ................................................................................................. 62.1.5. Agricultural Income........................................................................................................................................................... 62.2. AGRICULTURE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY ................................................................................................................... 72.3. RECOGNITION AND IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL STATISTICS .................................................................... 8

CHAPTER 3........................................................................................................................................................................... 9

INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT.................................................................................................................................. 93.1. ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE OF SAMOA................................................................................................................................... 93.2. LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR COLLECTION OF STATISTICS ..................................................................... 103.3. STRUCTURE OF THE NATIONAL STATISTICAL SYSTEM........................................................................................................... 103.4. COORDINATION MECHANISMS IN THE NATIONAL STATISTICAL SYSTEM ............................................................................ 103.5. REVIEW OF NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF STATISTICS (NSDS)/STRATEGIC PLAN FORAGRICULTURAL AND RURAL STATISTICS (SPARS)........................................................................................................................ 113.6. STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................................................................ 123.6.1. Samoa Bureau of Statistics ...........................................................................................................................................123.6.2. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries .......................................................................................................................123.6.3. Other Line Ministries/Organisations/Community Boards ...............................................................................123.6.4. Data Users (Civil Society and NGOs) .........................................................................................................................143.6.5. Development/Resource Partners ...............................................................................................................................15

CHAPTER 4.........................................................................................................................................................................17

IN-DEPTH ASSESSMENT OF STATISTICAL ACTIVITIES ......................................................................................174.1. CENSUSES....................................................................................................................................................................................... 174.2. CROP STATISTICS .......................................................................................................................................................................... 194.3. LIVESTOCK STATISTICS ................................................................................................................................................................ 204.4. FORESTRY STATISTICS ................................................................................................................................................................. 224.5. FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE STATISTICS.............................................................................................................................. 234.6. AGRICULTURAL MARKETS AND PRICE INFORMATION SYSTEM .............................................................................................. 244.7. WATER AND ENVIRONMENT STATISTICS .................................................................................................................................. 254.8. RURAL DEVELOPMENT STATISTICS ............................................................................................................................................ 254.9. FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION ............................................................................................................................................... 254.10. OTHER DOMAINS ........................................................................................................................................................................ 26

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CHAPTER 5.........................................................................................................................................................................27

INTEGRATION OF AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS INTO NSS ...............................................................................275.1. EXTENT OF INTEGRATION IN AGRICULTURAL DATA COLLECTIONS ...................................................................................... 275.1.1. Use of standard concepts and definitions across censuses and surveys ......................................................275.1.2. Use of common frames (List/Area/Multiple Frames), remote sensing and cadastral maps..............275.1.3. Use of GIS to map households, agricultural holdings and land parcels ......................................................275.1.4. Existence of Master Sampling Frame for agricultural census/surveys .......................................................275.1.5. Existence of integrated databases .............................................................................................................................275.1.6. Other areas..........................................................................................................................................................................285.2. DUPLICATION IN DATA COLLECTION.......................................................................................................................................... 285.3. SCOPE FOR BUILDING SYNERGIES AND PARTNERSHIPS........................................................................................................... 295.4. OTHER ACTIVITIES........................................................................................................................................................................ 29

CHAPTER 6.........................................................................................................................................................................30

MINIMUM SET OF CORE DATA ....................................................................................................................................306.1. ACCEPTED NATIONAL MINIMUM SET OF CORE DATA .............................................................................................................. 306.2. DATA GAPS AND FUTURE REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................................ 30CHAPTER 7.........................................................................................................................................................................32

ASSESSMENT OF CAPACITY TO PRODUCE CORE DATA......................................................................................327.1. OVERALL CAPACITY PROFILE OF SAMOA................................................................................................................................... 327.2. FINANCIAL RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................................................ 327.3. HUMAN RESOURCES..................................................................................................................................................................... 337.3.1. Staffing..................................................................................................................................................................................337.3.2. Training................................................................................................................................................................................337.4. USE OF ICT IN DATA PROCESS .................................................................................................................................................... 337.4.1. Data collection...................................................................................................................................................................347.4.2. Data processing.................................................................................................................................................................347.4.3. Data dissemination ..........................................................................................................................................................347.5. PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE ...................................................................................................................................................... 35

CHAPTER 8.........................................................................................................................................................................36

STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS (SWOT) .......................................................368.1. OVERALL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICAL SYSTEM...................................................................................................................... 368.2. MAJOR SUB-SECTORS ................................................................................................................................................................... 37CHAPTER 9.........................................................................................................................................................................38

PRIORITY AREAS FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING NEEDS ....................................................389.1. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ............................................................................................................................................................. 389.1.1. Filling data gaps ...............................................................................................................................................................389.1.2. Development of master sample frame......................................................................................................................389.1.3. Development of road map for SPARS........................................................................................................................389.1.4. Preparing country proposals .......................................................................................................................................399.2. TRAINING ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 399.2.1. In basic statistical methods ..........................................................................................................................................399.2.2. Methods used in agricultural statistics ....................................................................................................................399.2.3. In advanced statistical methods .................................................................................................................................409.2.4. In specialised techniques ...............................................................................................................................................40

REFERENCES......................................................................................................................................................................41

ANNEX I. MAJOR AGRICULTURAL DATA COLLECTION ACTIVITIES ....................................................................43

ANNEX II. PROPOSED CORE DATA FOR SAMOA .......................................................................................................49

ANNEX III. SWOT MATRIX - STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS ...................................55

ANNEX IV. LIST OF MAIN STAKEHOLDERS IN SAMOA ...........................................................................................57

ANNEX V. ORGANOGRAMS OF MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS.........................................................................................64

ANNEX VI. SAMOA COUNTRY CAPACITY INDICATORS – JULY 8, 2014 ...............................................................65

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ACRONYMS

ACEO Assistant Chief Executive OfficerADRA Adventist Disaster Relief AgencyAPHD Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries – Animal Production and Health DivisionASP Agriculture Sector Plan, 2011-15AusAID Australian Agency for International DevelopmentCBS Central Bank of SamoaCEO Chief Executive OfficerCPI Consumer Price IndexCSPRO Census and Survey Processing SystemDBS Development Bank of SamoaFAO Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United NationsFAO SAP Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Sub-regional Office for thePacific IslandsFFA Pacific Island Forum Fisheries AgencyGDP Gross Domestic ProductHIES Household Income and Expenditure SurveyHS Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding SystemIdCA In-depth Country AssessmentISIC International Standard Industrial ClassificationMAF Ministry of Agriculture and FisheriesMfR Ministry for RevenueMNRE Ministry of Natural Resources and EnvironmentMoF Ministry of FinanceMWCSD Ministry of Women Community and Social DevelopmentNOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, United States Department of CommerceNSS National Statistics SystemPPCD Policy, Planning and Communications Division, Ministry of Agriculture and FisheriesSACEP Samoa Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement ProjectSAT$ Samoan Tala (currency)SBEC Small Business Enterprise Centre SamoaSBS Samoa Bureau of StatisticsSDS Strategy for the Development of Samoa, 2012-16SIAP Statistical Institute for Asia and the PacificSITC Standard International Trade ClassificationSNA System of National AccountsSPC Secretariat of the Pacific CommunitySPREP Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment ProgrammeSSDS Samoa Strategy for the Development of Statistics, 2011-21UNDP United Nations Development ProgramUNPFA United Nations Population FundWIBDI Women in Business Development Inc.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural StatisticsThe Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics is an international effort to improve thequality of the agricultural information used in decision making. It has three main pillars: (i) establishing aminimum set of core data required to meet current and emerging needs; (ii) integrating agriculture intothe national statistical systems; and (iii) building the capacity to ensure sustainable agricultural statisticssystems. Samoa has been selected as one of the first group of countries for implementation of the GlobalStrategy.The first step in implementing the Global Strategy for a country is to carry out an In-depth CountryAssessment. This report presents the results of the assessment for Samoa. It describes the existingagricultural statistics system, identifies data gaps and weaknesses, and identifies the minimum set of coredata. The report also assesses the country’s statistical system and identifies the technical assistance andtraining interventions needed to improve the statistics.For the purpose of the Global Strategy, the agricultural sector includes crops, livestock, fisheries andforestry and rural statistics encompass its social and environmental dimensions.During 2011 and 2012, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) conducted apreliminary Country Assessment survey on the capacity of agricultural statistics in Samoa. This surveysought information on a range of issues related to the four dimensions of country capacity, includingInstitutional Infrastructure, Resources, Statistical Methods and Practices and the Availability of StatisticalInformation.The 2011-12 assessment was based on self-reported data by countries which was incomplete in manyareas. The information was used to derive indicative measures of capacity which were used as one factorin the selection of countries for in-depth assessment.In 2012, Samoa, through the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS), formally expressed interest in participatingin the FAO Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics initiative through the Asia-PacificRegional Action Plan. In 2013, Samoa was selected as the only Pacific Island nation to be supported in theinitial Global Strategy round, along with Asian countries Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.In December 2013, meetings were held with the major stakeholders who either produce or useagricultural statistics to gather information for an In-depth Country Assessment (IdCA) of Samoa’scurrent agricultural and rural statistics’ system.In May 2014 the initial IdCA findings were discussed at a Stakeholder Workshop, agreement was obtainedon the minimum core data set for Samoa and discussions were held on the way forward for the project.The assessment will serve as the basis of a detailed diagnostic report for developing a Strategic Plan forAgriculture and Rural Statistics (SPARS) for Samoa. There is currently no strategic plan and the GlobalStrategy initiative presents as an opportunity to move forward and develop such a plan.This report is the primary output from the in-depth assessment and documents the findings andoutcomes of the IdCA process in Samoa.Assessment of agricultural statistics in SamoaTwo of the key Samoa Government agencies, namely the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) andSBS, both have acknowledged issues and weaknesses with the current agricultural statistics situation inthe country.The Ministry, in its Agriculture Sector Plan, 2011-15 (ASP) identified that the availability and quality ofagricultural statistics had declined over the years and was one of the key challenges now facing the sector.Further, that the provision of key income and expenditure, production and employment data will be vitalto the measurement and subsequent monitoring and evaluation of the progress of key components andoutcomes of the ASP.

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SBS, in its Samoa Strategy for the Development of Statistics, 2011-21 (SSDS), acknowledged that therewere gaps in some areas of statistics and a lack of capacity to conduct necessary surveys. It furtheridentified that some sectors of the Samoan economy needed specific statistical development, includingthe agriculture, fisheries and forestry and tourism sectors.SBS conducts an Agricultural Census every ten years. The last Census, in 2009, was the third in the series,following Censuses in 1989 and 1999. The next Agricultural Census is planned for 2019.The 2009 Agricultural Census collected agricultural household, crop type and area planted/harvestedinformation as well as livestock data. Data on farm forestry and household fishing activity, agriculturalinputs (fertiliser and pesticide use) as well as farm equipment and machinery used were also collected.Aside from the ten yearly Agricultural Census, there are currently no regular crop or livestock surveysundertaken in Samoa.Agricultural sample surveys were conducted in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2005, however these lapsed due tobudget and time constraints and concerns that the 1999 Agricultural Census sampling frame was nolonger valid after five years. The Samoa Strategy for the Development of Statistics, 2011-21 proposes thatan Agriculture Census or Survey be conducted each five years with the next cycle (Agriculture Survey)planned for 2014, although it is now unlikely this will occur before 2015.SBS also undertakes the five-yearly Population and Housing Census as well as regular national householdsurveys such as the Labour, Education and Skills Survey and the five-yearly Household Income andExpenditure Survey (HIES). It also collects other important national statistics and compiles Samoa’snational accounts.Ministries and other government and private organisations also undertake their own statistical work tomeet additional data needs. In the case of MAF, this is particularly during intercensal years, with supportand guidance provided by SBS when this is sought. In recent years, MAF Divisions have collected cropproduction and livestock data on an ad-hoc and opportunistic basis, when donor funding has becomeavailable. Recent examples include the Ministry’s 2012 Cattle Census and 2013 Fruit and VegetableSurvey, both undertaken to collect base-line information for the Samoa Agriculture CompetitivenessEnhancement Project (SACEP) which is being financed by the World Bank.Fisheries data are collected by the MAF Fisheries Division whilst forestry data are compiled by theMinistry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE).Data gapsThe major weakness identified through the In-depth Country Assessment phase was the lack of availableinformation and evidence upon which to base sound planning and policy decisions. This weakness isprimarily due to the lack of regular collection and survey activity. Whilst some aspects of agriculturalactivity may not change greatly from one year to another, such as irrigation or cultivation methods forexample, there are various production and other data which are required more regularly and preferablyannually, i.e. crop production and yields, input use, livestock counts, impact of climatic events etc.The lack of available information is further compounded by the fact that some collected data is often notpublicly available. A critical component of any statistical system is the adoption of effective disseminationmethods which ensure that information is available and accessible to policy and decision makers andother users. The internet provides one such medium for this dissemination, therefore it wasdisappointing that websites of some of the ministries and organisations were not maintained/updatedregularly or effectively utilised to publish important information that was collected or held by thatagency.Capacity AssessmentThe challenge, particularly for SBS and MAF, will be to find the necessary resources, both financial andhuman, to enable it to deliver and maintain a regular and sustainable agricultural and rural statisticssystem into the future, including annual or biennial data collection activities.

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Financial resources, including an adequate budget to both introduce and sustain an ongoing agriculturestatistical system will be critical. This includes the provision of adequate statistical staffing levels in SBSand MAF, and administrative funds to support field activities.Capacity building and improving skills of technical staff in agriculture subject matter, sample surveyoperations and analytical skills has been consistently identified as a current weakness and a significantconstraint to the operations of several agencies. This is reflected in the capacity indicator for HumanResources: Training, which scored zero. There is a real opportunity to garner support from FAO and theSecretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) to assist both SBS and MAF in building their respectiveexpertise and capacity in identified areas of weakness.Relationships and partnerships, particularly between SBS and MAF, are not strong, and these along withpartnerships with other data suppliers and users need to be further developed and strengthened. Thereare a number of strategies which could assist this partnership strengthening and are worthy ofconsideration, including joint survey and project collaborations, staff exchanges between organisations,and the out posting of experienced SBS staff to MAF and other ministries to provide statistical advice andassistance with survey activities.The FAO Sub-regional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP) also has a key role to play in supporting bothSBS and MAF in developing effective relationships and identifying opportunities for the two institutionsto work more effectively and cohesively and in developing stronger partnerships. Ultimately the successof otherwise of any agriculture statistics system introduced in Samoa could be dependent on theeffectiveness and solidarity of these relationships.

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COUNTRY CAPACITY INDICATORS

To complement this assessment, a set of country capacity indicators (CCI) was developed through theCAF1 to monitor the development of statistical capacity at the country level more objectively. Theseindicators, which span four dimensions and twenty-three elements (Annex VI), are based on informationcollected during the in-depth assessment using a Standard Questionnaire revised for use in Asia Pacific.This baseline assessment under the CAF fielded responses from Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS), andrelevant line ministries covering crops, fisheries, and livestock - representing the major producers ofagricultural and rural statistics in the country. Responses received fed into the calculation of a completeset of indicators. Scores are recorded on a scale of 0 to 100, where a score of 100 defines a completecoverage of the criteria under the CAF.Out of the four dimensions of country capacity, Samoa showed relative strength in its institutionalinfrastructure (figure 1), for which a statistics law has been enacted and subsequently declares the SBS asthe agency for collection, processing, analysis and dissemination of statistical information related tosocio-economic and demographic structure of the country. This legal basis for the collection ofagricultural and rural is statistics is further supported by the development of a Samoa Strategy for theDevelopment of Statistics 2011-21 (SSDS) and an Agriculture Sector Plan (ASP) 2011–2015 under theMinistry of Agriculture. Weaknesses were however noted in the area of coordination where suchmechanisms were shown to be non-existent (figure 2).Country Capacity Indicators

Figure 1. Country Capacity Indicators

1Framework for Assessing Country Capacity to Produce Agricultural and Rural Statistics vol. 1b, FAO, 2014.

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33

56

63020406080100Indicator I: InstitutionalInfrastructure

Indicator II: Resources

Indicator III: Statisticalmethods and practices

Indicator IV: Availability ofstatistical information

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Indicators of Institutional Infrastructure

Figure 2. Institutional InfrastructureIndicators of ResourcesOn the state of available resources for the production of agricultural and rural statistics, weaknesses wereobserved across all elements – particularly in the area of human resources where the availability oftechnical and professional staff was noted as a dominant constraint to ongoing operations in both the SBSand MAF. The limited availability of training in both SBS and MAF was also highlighted under theassessment - identifying training as an area of high priority for the development of agricultural and ruralstatistics in the country.

Figure 3. Resources2Indicators of Statistical Methods and PracticesOn the state of statistical methods and practices, a number of areas for technical assistance wereidentified with moderate deficiencies reported in the availability and use of data collection technology,the adoption of international standards, and the lack of availability in key agricultural and rural surveys.There were, however, some identified areas of relative strength in IT related elements such as those onstatistical software capability and information technology (IT) infrastructure.2 The resources indicator is representative of the situation in the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS)

100

0

10090

90

020406080

1001.1 Legal Framework

1.2 Coordination in theNSS

1.3 Strategic Vision andplanning for agricultural

statistics

1.4 Integration ofagriculture in the NSS

1.5 Relevance of Data

67

25

0

42 0204060801002.1 Financial Resources

2.2 Human resources:staffing

2.3 Human resources:training

2.4 Physical infrastructure

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Figure 4. Statistical Methods and PracticesIndicators of Core Data AvailabilityOn the state of core data availability, the standard questionnaire noted limited coverage of the minimumset of core indicators (29 items of the minimum set of core indicators) with deficiencies in the availabilityof data for aquaculture, agricultural inputs, agro-processing, rural infrastructure, and the environment.The issue of timeliness was also stressed where the modal year of recent availability for agricultural andrural surveys lagged by two years or more. This point was reiterated by users noting timeliness as themost significant constraint in using agricultural and rural data for policy making.

Figure 5. Core Data AvailabilityThe full Capacity profile of the NSS may be referred in Annex VI.

83

45100

71

5357

4078

20

23

0204060801003.1 Statistical softwarecapability 3.2 Data collectiontechnology3.3 Informationtechnology infrastructure3.4 General statisticalinfrastructure3.5 Adoption ofinternational standards3.6 General statisticalactivities

3.7 Agricultural marketand price information3.8 Agricultural surveys

3.9 Analysis and use ofdata3.10 Qualityconsciousness

51

0

100

100 0204060801004.1 Core data availability

4.2 Timeliness

4.3 Overall data qualityperception

4.4 Data accessibility

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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1. The Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural StatisticsMost people living in poverty in developing countries tend to live in rural areas. Most of these rely onagriculture for their livelihoods. Agricultural development is vital to alleviating poverty and achievingfood security, but is also a contributor to global warming, water scarcity, pollution and land degradation.New data requirements are emerging in the quest to understand how population growth, demand fornatural resources, competing uses of food crops, and the effects of extreme weather and climatechange affect food security, poverty and well-being. Decisions about aid and investments intended topromote agricultural growth need to be based on sound information.In many countries, there has been a decline in the availability and quality of agricultural statistics to thepoint that many countries lack the capacity to produce and report even the minimum sets of data tomonitor national trends, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the emerging issues inagriculture such as the environment and the use of food crops for biofuels.In response to these concerns, the World Bank in collaboration with the United Nations and the Food andAgriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), prepared the report Global Strategy to ImproveAgricultural and Rural Statistics (World Bank et al, 2010). The main purpose of the Global Strategy is toprovide a framework to enable national and international statistical systems to produce the basicagricultural information needed to guide decision-making. The Strategy is based on three pillars:

Pillar 1. Establish a minimum set of core data required to meet current and emerging needs; Pillar 2. Integrate agriculture into the national statistical systems and use sound datamanagement systems; and Pillar 3. Establish suitable governance processes and build the necessary statistical capacity toensure sustainability of agricultural statistics systems.Under Pillar 1, the Strategy provides a conceptual framework for agricultural statistics that covers theeconomic, social and environmental dimensions of agriculture. The economic dimension relates toagricultural production, marketing and household income. The social dimension includes aspects relatedto farm demography and labour, gender, food security and risk and vulnerability. The environmentaldimension covers sustainability issues such as the impact on the environment, biofuels, land use andwater use. For the purpose of the Strategy, the agricultural sector includes crops, livestock, forestry andfisheries.A list of 33 key indicators needed to monitor the performance of the agricultural sector has beenidentified. A minimum set of core data items needed to measure those indicators has also been identified(see Annex II). The core data globally include eight core crops (wheat, maize, barley, sorghum, rice, sugarcane, soybeans and cotton) and five core livestock types (cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and poultry). The set ofcore items is intended to provide the starting point for building the agricultural statistics system in eachcountry.Under Pillar 2, integration of agriculture into the country’s national statistics system is seen as the key toavoiding duplication of statistical effort and ensuring the use of consistent statistical standards. The aim isfor each country to develop a master sample frame for use in conducting all agricultural sample surveysand censuses, taking into account the need for data at both the farm level (the economic unit) and thehousehold level (the social unit), as well as to provide links with land use data. In each country, anintegrated programme of agricultural surveys and censuses will be developed based on the mastersample frame. Additional data sources such as administrative reporting systems may also be needed.Under Pillar 3, it is recognized that an integrated agricultural statistical system will affect the roles andrelationships between data producers, including the national statistical office and line ministries.Coordination mechanisms are needed. The Global Strategy proposes that a governance body such as anational statistics council be formed for this purpose. The need for capacity building should take account

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of the quality of agricultural statistics and the existing skills in data collection and analysis. Assistancefrom donor agencies and technical cooperation agencies will be needed to support capacity building.An action plan has been prepared to implement the Global Strategy (FAO et al, 2012). A number of Asia-Pacific countries have been selected for early implementation of the Global Strategy, and Samoa has beenidentified as one of these priority countries for implementation in 2013-2014.1.2 In-depth Country Assessment (IdCA)

1.2.1. Background and ScopeCountry assessments are the starting point for the implementation of the Global Strategy in eachidentified country. This is done in two stages. The first stage involves countries reporting on the currentstatus of agricultural statistics in their country. In the Asia-Pacific region, these first-stage countryassessments were completed in 2012.As part of the Samoa initial country assessment, the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS) identified thefollowing specific areas of need for assistance: To have technical capacity in selecting sample for agriculture surveys; Financial assistance in conducting an assessment of the damage done by cyclones and otherclimatic events to major export agriculture products, such as bananas, coconuts and forestry; and The 2009 Agricultural Census was domestically funded and in terms of sustainability to ensurethat agriculture information are available every ten years, the need for external financial supportis very crucialThe second stage involves an In-depth Country Assessment (IdCA) to provide a comprehensiveassessment of the agricultural statistics system in the country and determine the national capability toproduce the required statistics on a sustainable basis. The IdCA involves the participation of allstakeholders including agricultural data producers, users and research institutions. The specificobjectives of the IdCA are to:- Describe the statistical system in the country, document the current agricultural statistics system,and evaluate the data collection methodologies;- Determine the extent to which the existing agricultural statistics system is capable of generatingdata needed by government, development partners, research agencies and the private sector;- Determine the minimum set of core data for the country;- Provide information necessary to design and deliver technical assistance, training and researchsupport and to prepare a Country Proposal to seek short-term support;- Provide baseline information to help monitor the impact and outcome of the support to beprovided in the future to improve the agricultural statistics system; and- Provide an authoritative reference document on the development of agricultural and ruralstatistics for the wider national and international community.The assessment is a cooperative effort of the relevant Government agencies, and is the basis of a detaileddiagnostic report for developing a Strategic Plan for Agriculture and Rural Statistics (SPARS) for thecountry. The objective of the assessment is to assess the statistical capacity and state of the’ (1)institutional infrastructure, (2) human, financial and technical resources, (3) statistical methods andpractices and (4) the availability and accessibility of the “core data” required for an integrated andsustainable agriculture and rural statistics system.

1.2.2. Process followedFollowing the selection of Samoa as one of the first of four Asia-Pacific countries to be supported underthe Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics initiative in Asia-Pacific, FAO appointed aSamoa-based National Consultant to commence the in-depth country assessment process. TheConsultant’s role included:

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Identifying key stakeholder organisations in Samoa, both as users and/or producers ofagricultural statistics; Providing these stakeholders with information about the Global Strategy; Organising and inviting stakeholders to a Stakeholder Workshop.In conjunction with the FAO Global Strategy Regional Coordinator and FAO International Consultant, thefollowing IdCA assessment processes commenced in December 2013: Separate briefings were held with Executives members of the Ministry of Agriculture andFisheries, Samoa Bureau of Statistics and FAO Sub-regional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP) toboth inform and garner high level support for the Global Strategy; A Stakeholder Workshop was held on 10 December 2013 (attended by approximately 30representatives from 14key stakeholder organisations); Follow-up interviews with all stakeholder organisations represented at the Workshop were thenconducted by the FAO International and National Consultants, as well as other organisationsidentified as a key user and/or producer of agricultural statistics; Key discussion points from each meeting where summarised and provided to the relevantorganisation for confirmation; Each stakeholder organisation was also requested to complete a comprehensive questionnairedetailing their use and/or production of agricultural statistics. This included an assessment ofthe frequency and quality of available data, and any identified data needs or constraints in termsof effective data analysis; Where necessary, further information or clarification was sought from some stakeholders.The first draft of this IdCA report was circulated for comment in March 2014. A revised version of thereport was then circulated to stakeholders for consideration prior to a second workshop of nationalstakeholders which was held on 29 May 2014.

1.2.3. Workshops, meetings and interviews heldThe first Stakeholder Workshop was conducted on 10 December 2013, with meetings and interviewsconducted during the initial IdCA period (9 – 20 December 2013).A second Stakeholder Workshop was conducted on 29 May 2014 where the findings of the IdCA processwere discussed, minimum core data for Samoa identified and the way forward discussed. Meetings andinterviews were conducted during the period 26 May – 6 June 2014.

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CHAPTER 2

THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IN SAMOA

2.1. Overview of the Agricultural SectorThe Independent State of Samoa consists of two main islands, Savaii and Upolu, with eight smaller islandsand a total land area of 1,100 sq. miles (2,830 sq. km.).The population of Samoa, as reported in the 2011 Population and Housing Census, was 188,000, withover 80 percent of the population classified as rural. Savaii is the largest island (660 sq. miles or 1,700 sq.km.). The second largest island is Upolu with an area of 430 Sq. miles or 1,100 sq. km where the capitalApia, with a population of 37,000, is located.The country, which consists of about 330 villages for administrative purposes, is divided into 41 districts.These districts are further grouped into four census regions namely Apia UrbanArea, North-West Upolu, Rest of Upolu and Savaii.Samoa’s traditional village economy has historically been dominated by village and community-based agriculture. This provided food for the family and the potential for a cash income from the sale ofcopra or other produce. However in the years since independence was obtained in 1962, the traditionalvillage-economy has changed markedly, and now household food consumption is supplemented byimported items and incomes are boosted by employment and remittances from family members livingand/or working overseas.Agriculture had been, until the early 1980s, the most dominant sector in the economy of Samoaaccounting for nearly 90% of total exports and around 60% of the country’s total employment. Thesector share of GDP was estimated at 50.8% in 1972, 51.7% in 1978, and 50.5% in 1983.The performance and relative contribution of the agriculture sector including fisheries to the nationalGDP has since steadily declined from above 50% in the 1970’s and 80’s to 22% in 2000 and less than 10%in both 2010 and 2011.Figure 1. Percentage Contribution of Agriculture and Fisheries (at constant prices) to GDP

Samoa’s farming systems are characterized by closely interdependent production activities that cutacross the crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry sub-sectors. The production base is however narrow,being confined to a few root crops, vegetables and fruits that are grown haphazardly on a small scale, pluscoconuts and cocoa grown as cash crops.

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2.1.1. CropsTraditionally the production of tree and food crops has dominated Samoa’s agriculture. Samoa’spopulation has relied on coconuts, banana, root crops, breadfruit and fish for much of their diet. However,the impact of natural disasters and the infestation by pests and diseases such as the taro leaf blight in1993 have contributed to the decline in crop production in the past two decades.The 2009 Agricultural Census reported a total land area of 92,310 acres covered by the 15,793 holdings inSamoa. Of this total area, 70,367 acres were used for crop cultivation. This represented a reduction of39% in cropping land compared with the previous Census conducted in 1999.In 2009, Coconuts, Taro and Bananas continued to be the main crops grown, accounting for almost 63%of the total land area occupied by major crops.Figure 2. Percentage Distribution of Total Cropped Area by Major Crops

2.1.2. LivestockThe livestock sub-sector is mainly village based and is composed of cattle, pigs and poultry. Sheepfarming is a relatively new initiative with the first shipment of some 40 animals from Fiji in 2004. Thesewere raised by the Ministry of Agriculture and subsequently distributed to some farmers.Figure 3. Number of Livestock Kept, by Region, 2009

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2.1.3. FishingFishing is an important occupation in the village economy and provides a major source of protein in thediet and an important source of cash income. It also provides a source of foreign reserves throughexports.Figure 4. Number of Households Engaged in Fishing by Main Purpose of Fishing and Region, 2009compared with 1999

2.1.4. Employment and Agriculture Household ActivityEmployment levels in the agriculture sector have declined over the last two decades from 60% in theearly 1980’s to 37% in 2011, according to the latest Population and Housing Census conducted that year.Household agricultural activity for home consumption also continues to be important. The 2009Agricultural Census reported that 34% of households undertook subsistence agricultural activity purelyfor home consumption, compared with 19% in 1989. The proportion of households reporting someagricultural activity for sale has declined from 52% in 1989 to 34% in 2009.Figure 5. Household by Agricultural Activity 1989, 1999 & 2009

2.1.5. Agricultural IncomeIncome from agriculture has been a significant addition to households, but this has been reducing as aproportion of income over the period since 1989. More than half of households (51%) in 2009 reportedearning nothing from agricultural activity. This reflects the growth in agricultural activity for homeconsumption only (26% of agriculturally active households in 1989, 42% in 1999 and 49% in 2009).

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Figure 6. Agriculturally Active Households, by Proportion of Income Usually Derived fromAgriculture

2.2. Agriculture Sector Development StrategyThe Agriculture Sector (including Fisheries) remains at the forefront of economic growth and a key toensuring food security, income generation and enhancing export capacity.The Government of Samoa’s Strategy for the Development of Samoa, 2012-16 (SDS), with its vision of“boosting productivity for sustainable development”, recognised agriculture as one of the key productivesectors driving the economy.Specifically, Key Outcome 2 of the SDS is to “Re-invigorate Agriculture’. The Strategic Areas under this KeyOutcome include:1. Adopt an inclusive approach to promote and encourage investment in agriculture and fisheriesthrough: Provision of responsive advisory services in crops, livestock and fisheries. Provision of planting materials and availability of fishing equipment, Better access to financing and market information2. Encourage priority investment in downstream value added processing of products utilizingresearch results available.3. Support the development of organic products and an “Organic Samoa” brand. And4. Enhance capacity building at the community and village level, secondary and tertiary level andvocational training.5. Strengthen the policy, strategic planning and management capability to support sustainableagriculture development.The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) has prepared its first ever Agriculture Sector Plan (ASP)2011–2015 with a vision of agriculture for food and income security.The primary objectives of the ASP are: to strengthen policy, legal and regulatory frameworks forsustainable agriculture development; to improve national self-reliance in food production and nutritionalsecurity; to enhance private sector capacity in improving agricultural productivity, value adding andmarketing; and to ensure sustainable adaptation and management of agricultural resources.The government’s policy objectives have a strong focus on commercialization through increasedprivate sector participation and improved facilitation by the Ministry of Agriculture.The ASP commits the government to:1. The principle of agriculture‐led growth as a key national development strategy;2. The revitalisation of the agriculture sector to reverse its declining performance and toincrease its overall contribution to GDP from 10% in 2010 to 20% by 2015; and

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3. Increase funding resources into the sector including the share of the national budgetallocated to the sector to increase from 5% in 2010 to 10% by 2015.The implementation of the ASP is ongoing, supported by the US$13 million World Bank fundedSamoa Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Program (SACEP).2.3. Recognition and importance of Agricultural and Rural StatisticsOne of the key issues identified in the Ministry’s ASP relates to the availability of data, specifically:“The availability and quality of agricultural statistics has declined over the years and is one of the keychallenges now facing the sector. Decisions about aid and/or investment efforts to foster agriculturalgrowth need to be based on sound information on land use, factors of agricultural production, and theprevailing economic and social situation faced by producers. These decisions need to be made under abroader framework that takes into account the different variables that affect the environment andinfluence global warming and the overall production systems. The overall impact of these factors canonly be effectively measured and evaluated with appropriate statistics.”The ASP further acknowledges the importance of key statistical data and the role of SBS in the monitoringand evaluation of progress against the Plan:“The Samoa Bureau of Statistics is responsible for the collection and compilation of key statistical datathat assists in the analysis of the performances of various sectors of the economy including agriculture.The provision of key income and expenditure, production and employment data will be vital to themeasurement and subsequent monitoring and evaluation of the progress of key components andoutcomes of the ASP.” (ASP 2011-15)The Samoa Strategy for the Development of Statistics, 2011–21 (SSDS) developed by SBS aims to providethe best quality statistical information to support the Strategy for Development of Samoa, 2008-12 (SDS),and importantly lays out the path for the development of statistics across the whole system of officialstatistics in Samoa.There are two key layers to the SSDS, namely:I. Delivering relevant, quality priority statistics for usersII. Ensuring the strategic factors and environment are in place to enable efficient productionand delivery of those statistics.

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CHAPTER 3

INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT

3.1. Administrative Structure of SamoaPolitics of Samoa takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic state wherebythe Prime Minister of Samoa is the head of government. Existing alongside the country's Western styledpolitical system is the fa'amatai chiefly system of socio-political governance and organisation, central tounderstanding Samoa's political system.From the country's independence in 1962, only matai title holders (customary title passed on land andkinship for most parts) could vote and stand as candidates in elections to parliament. In 1990, the votingsystem was changed by the Electoral Amendment Act which introduced universal suffrage. However, theright to stand for elections remains with matai.The country has a legislative assembly of 49 members of parliament, elected by those 21 years and over.All 47 Samoan Members of Parliament are matai, performing dual roles as chiefs and modern politicians,with the exception of the two seats reserved for non-Samoans. The Prime Minister is elected by theParliament and he/she in turn appoints twelve cabinet members.The country, which consists of about 330 villages for administrative purposes, is divided into 41 districts.These districts are further grouped into four census regions namely Apia Urban Area, North-West Upolu,Rest of Upolu and Savaii.At the local level, much of the country's civil and criminal matters are dealt with by village chiefcouncils, Fono o Matai, according to traditional law, a practice further strengthened by the 1990 VillageFono Law.The SBS is headed by the Government Statistician reporting to the Minister of Public Enterprises. SBS isdivided into seven Divisions, each headed by an Assistant Chief Executive Officer (ACEO). These include: Economic Statistics Division, which is responsible for most agricultural statistics including theAgricultural Census Finance Statistics Division Census and Survey Statistics Division Social Statistics and Environment Division Births, Deaths and Marriages Division Corporate Services Division Information and Communications Technology and Data Processing Services DivisionThe Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Samoa comprises six Divisions, each also headed up by anACEO reporting to the Chief Executive Officer: Crops Division Animal Production and Health Division (APHD) Fisheries Policy, Planning and Communications Division Quarantine Division Corporate ServicesAlthough the Ministry’s Crops, Animal Production and Health and Fisheries Divisions undertakeoccasional survey activities, none have designated officers with specific statistical responsibilities orexpertise. There are no SBS personnel currently out posted to MAF or other Ministries.

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3.2. Legal and Institutional Framework for collection of statisticsThe Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS) was re-established as an autonomous Agency in 2008 by an Act ofParliament - promulgation of the Statistics Act dates from 1971. The SBS will act as the Governmentagency for collection, processing, analysis and dissemination of statistical information related to socio-economic and demographic structure of the country.The Agency took over all the functions of the earlier Department of Statistics which functioned as theNational Statistics Office of Samoa. The lead role for agriculture statistics has also been transferred overto the SBS and the role of other contributing agencies has been defined more clearly.The Statistics Act also makes provision for the establishment of a Statistics Advisory Board, but there isno board currently operating.The Board’s legislated function is to review regularly the statistical needs of Government, and those ofcommerce and industry, academic and research bodies, and other users of official statistics in Samoa, andin the light of such reviews to advise or direct the Statistician regarding annual and 5-yearly programmesof work and priorities in official statistics to be undertaken by the Department of Statistics (now SBS) tobest serve the national interest.3.3. Structure of the National Statistical SystemSBS is the Government agency responsible for the collection, processing, analysis and dissemination ofstatistical information related to socio-economic and demographic structure of the country. This includesthe Population and Housing Census and Agricultural Census as well as regular national household surveyssuch as the Labour, Education and Skills Survey and the Household Income and Expenditure Survey(HIES).It also collects other important national statistics and compiles Samoa’s national accounts.In agricultural statistics, SBS collects agricultural household, crop type and area planted/harvested andlivestock data in the ten-yearly Agricultural Census. Data on farm forestry and household fishing activity,agricultural inputs (fertiliser and pesticide use) as well as farm equipment and machinery used are alsocollected in the Census.Ministries and other government and private organisations do undertake their own statistical work tomeet additional data needs. In the case of MAF, this is particularly during intercensal years, with supportand guidance provided by SBS when this is sought.MAF Divisions have collected crop production and livestock data on an ad-hoc and opportunistic basis,when donor funding has become available. Recent examples are the Ministry’s 2012 Cattle Census and2013 Fruit and Vegetable Survey both undertaken to collect base-line information for the SamoaAgriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Project (SACEP), financed by the World Bank.Fisheries data are collected by the MAF Fisheries Division whilst forestry data are compiled by theMinistry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE).FAO has previously compiled food balance sheets, which were last produced in respect of 2009. HoweverFAO have advised that due to the lack of available data on both the input and output sides, i.e. productionand consumption, compilation of an updated food balance sheet is not currently possible.3.4. Coordination mechanisms in the National Statistical SystemThere is currently no national statistics committee or other body to formally oversee the statistical workof SBS to ensure that the statistical system meets user needs and that statistical activities are coordinated.However, a number of informal statistical coordination mechanisms have occurred or are in place.In recent years, development of the Strategy for the Development of Samoa 2008-12(SDS), the SamoaStrategy for the Development of Statistics 2011-21 (SSDS) and various ministry Sector Plans covering thefive year period from 2011 to 2015 has necessitated close interaction and engagement of staff fromacross the various ministries, including MAF, MNRE, Ministry of Finance (MoF) and SBS. There are

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regular Sector Co-ordinator meetings, facilitated by MoF, to review and assess performance against the14 or so Sector Plans.Various statistical coordination arrangements are also in place at lower administrative levels.3.5. Review of National Strategy for the Development of Statistics(NSDS)/Strategic Plan for Agricultural and Rural Statistics (SPARS)SBS has developed the Samoa Strategy for the Development of Statistics 2011-21(SSDS). Whilst thestrategy covers a ten year period, the current SBS focus is on an implementation plan covering the firstfive years in detail.The Strategy is quite broad in terms of content, covering goals and improvement strategies for Macro-economic and Finance Statistics, Population, Demographic and Vital Statistics, Social and EnvironmentStatistics and Sector Statistics as well as strategies to improve the statistics on environment andinfrastructure, and the coordination, communication and dissemination of statistics. Human resourcesmanagement, information technology infrastructure and physical infrastructure goals and actions are alsoincluded.The SSDS acknowledges that there are gaps in some areas of statistics and a lack of capacity to conductnecessary surveys. It identified that some sectors of the Samoan economy needed specific statisticaldevelopment, including the agriculture, fisheries and forestry and tourism sectors.Further, that the development of Sector Plans has highlighted the need for statistics to support theplanning process and subsequent monitoring and evaluation “If we cannot measure, we cannot manage”.SSDS Goal 4 requires ‘Relevant, reliable and accessible sector statistics to provide the information neededto monitor and support the achievement of the goals of the relevant sector plans, as well as MDG andother indicators.’ Two priority actions relating specifically to Agriculture and Fishing were identified asfollows: 4.1 The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, working in partnership with SBS, to:

4.1.1 Develop and expand use of both Agriculture and Fisheries Statistics to meet needsof sector plans4.1.2 Re-introduce regular Agriculture surveysThe SDSS goes further and proposes that an Agriculture Census or Survey be conducted at five-yearlyintervals (currently every 10 years) with the next cycle (Agricultural Survey) planned for 2014, althoughit is unlikely this Agricultural Survey will occur before 2015.There is currently no Strategic Plan for Agricultural and Rural Statistics (SPARS) to detail how it isproposed this will be achieved. The Global Strategy project presents as an opportunity to move forwardand develop such a strategic plan.The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) is included as a member of the Steering Committee andthe working group in that plan, and the role of those meetings include the development andimplementation of agricultural sector statistics.The SBS in close consultation with the MAF plans and prepares for both Agriculture and FisheriesStatistics to meet the needs of sector plans (2011-2015), and implements the surveys.In a review of progress against the previous Strategy for the Development of Samoa 2008-12, thefollowing observation was made regarding Statistical Development, “Slow progress had been achieved inimproving data collection systems. The Bureau of Statistics started its institutional strengtheningprogram in 2011 and had since completed the National Strategy for Strategic Data Development (shouldread Samoa Strategy for the Development of Statistics) for the next 10 years. The agriculture census wascompleted in 2009, the demographic survey in the same year and the Population and Housing census in2011.”As both the SSDS and Sector Plans have only been in place for two to three years it would be premature atthis stage to pronounce their success or otherwise. However, it was very clear during the IdCA process

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that staff of the various Ministries and other organisations are well focussed on achieving the respectiveoutcomes of their Sector Plans. The challenge for a number of Ministries and organisations was therealisation that relevant and timely information necessary to measure and evaluate progress against theiragreed performance indicators may either not be available, or even possible to collect.3.6. Stakeholder Analysis

3.6.1. Samoa Bureau of StatisticsSBS is the main Government agency in terms of the collection, processing and publication of agriculturaland rural statistics. It has the legislative authority and responsibility under the Statistics Act to undertakethe five-yearly Population and Housing Census and the decennial Agricultural Census.It provides most of the key agricultural data used to measure the contribution of agriculture to the Samoaeconomy, including Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and other Government Finance statistics, theConsumer Price Index (CPI) and terms of trade, as well as household data collected in both the abovecensuses and in the five-yearly HIES (Household Income and Expenditure Survey).The Government Statistician expressed excitement with Samoa’s involvement as the first Pacific Islandcountry to participate in the Global Strategy and the prospect of improving the country’s agriculture andrural statistics.3.6.2. Ministry of Agriculture and FisheriesMAF has key responsibility for agriculture development in Samoa through its planning and policyactivities. The Ministry’s Chief Executive Officer commented that MAF are main data collectors but not bychoice, as they would prefer to be data users for analytical and policy development purposes.The lack of regular data has meant that in recent times the Ministry has conducted livestock and fruit andvegetable surveys to obtain baseline data for the World Bank-sponsored Samoa AgricultureCompetitiveness Enhancement Project (SACEP).The preference for a data user role over collection activities was repeated by others within the Ministry’sExecutive, although there did still appear to be considerable interest by some MAF personnel inundertaking collection and survey activities, some with SBS assistance, or at other times independently ofSBS.However, the requirement for more regular crop production and livestock data was universally endorsedthroughout the Ministry. Having access to regular and reliable data would perhaps negate or at leastsignificantly reduce MAF’s desire or need to undertake baseline data collections, as has been the situationin the past year or two.3.6.3. Other Line Ministries/Organisations/Community BoardsMinistry of FinanceThe Ministry of Finance is the main planning body within the Samoa Government and its CEO is theprimary economic and financial adviser to cabinet and government. Some of the key activities andresponsibilities of the Ministry include:

Produce, implement and monitor the Annual Budget of the government. Monitor all state owned enterprises (such as the Water Authority and the Electric PowerCorporation). Develop national economic strategies and plans.Consistent with this economic strategic development responsibility, the Ministry has played a key role inthe introduction of the various Agency Sector Plans. It uses data from various SBS and MAF economic

surveys to assess performance of the 14 sectors of economy against their sector plans. It noted specifically theimportance of reinvigorating the Agriculture Sector, as this is seen as key to the future, along with the TourismSector.

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This programmatic or Sector approach to planning is in its early stages, but is moving forward. The needfor data to support and assess performance will be important, particularly as the Ministry has plans tomove to outcome-based budgeting for the Government sector.Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE)MNRE is both a data user and data producer/collector. It uses data from various sources, including SBS,MAF and from other sources, such as forest harvesting reported under the Forest Management Act, in themonitoring and evaluation of its NESP (National Environment & Development Sector Plan). The datapriority is to meet the Ministry’s State of Environment (SOE) reporting requirements, which it noted hasreporting gaps. It also acknowledged that relevant data may exist in other agencies, and is aboutinformation sharing and awareness of what data might be available.Data relating to the relationship of agriculture sector to other sectors, impact of agricultural activities onenvironment, i.e. land use, cultivation, fertilizer use by type, forestry replanting, fruit trees etc. arepriorities for MNRE. Also, ongoing data on water resource, including quality of drink water and householdsanitation are important. As trend data is required, the regularity and sustainability of data is critical.The Ministry’s Disaster Management Office is conducting household surveys to determine factors that arelikely to increase the vulnerability of each household to impacts of a disaster and their capacities todetermine what households can do using their own resources and expertise. The survey is one of the keyactivities of the Community Disaster and Climate Risk Management Program. In future, DMO would liketo see the parameters used in this survey to be considered and included in the next Population Census.MNRE also require data by non-standard regions, i.e. topographical. GIS data is important from anenvironmental perspective.Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (MWCSD)The Ministry is both a data user and data producer and through its Division of Internal Affairs oversees anetwork of village representatives, one for each village of Samoa, and these representatives collect andprovide information to the Ministry on a monthly basis, through their performance management system(PMS). This is basically a set of indicators to guide data collection that will allow the Ministry to capturetrends in a number of fields in line with the representatives' mandates, but mostly agriculture, such aspatterns of agricultural production in rural areas (includes crop information by type, although no productionor area planted information is collected).The Ministry reported limitations in the capacity of village representatives to collect data and the need forcapacity building on data management, including setting up central databases. The Ministry is currentlylooking to merge the PMS of all their divisions within a larger Ministry-wide Monitoring and Evaluationframework.From a data user perspective, MWCSD specifically uses information from the MAF Fisheries Newsletterand Gender and Disability data from the SBS Population and Housing Census. It identified the need forannual village level data on agricultural produce, production of fruit and vegetables, livestock by owner, cattlenumbers, number of informal agricultural workers, and the number of villages with tar sealed access roads(roads for access inland to plantations).Ministry for Revenue (MfR)The Ministry for Revenue is part of the Finance Sector and its main function is revenue collection, bothInland Revenue (GST/Tax/PAYE/Provisional Tax) and Customs (Import Taxes, excise duty etc.). TheMinistry negotiates revenue targets annually with Ministry of Finance and has their own RevenueManagement System (RMS), which is based on the NZ system.Internally collected data is extracted monthly for management reports and quarterly for consideration byCabinet. The Ministry conducted a survey of Taxpayer Compliance and Ministry Customer Service inOctober and November 2013 of approximately 350 small and medium enterprises. SBS assisted with thesample design for the survey, which utilized a 10% sample.The Ministry uses various SBS and MAF economic surveys to assess the economic performance andcoverage of potential revenue sources. From an agricultural and rural perspective, the Ministry is

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interested in information on registered commercial fishers and farmers, noting that individuals engagedin agriculture and fishery activities are exempt for tax purposes.The Ministry has a Memorandum of Understanding with SBS which includes providing personal details toSBS for National Account purposes. However, the Statistical legislation restricts SBS from releasingpersonal details obtained from MfR except in exceptional circumstances, i.e. national security or naturaldisasters.Central Bank of Samoa (CBS)The Central Bank is a major user of a wide range of economic data, including the Local Produce MarketSurvey (SBS), Import data (from SBS trade data), Export data (from their own Export License Form E),Commercial Banks and Non-Financial Institutions Lending (Development Bank of Samoa) by sectoralbreakdown, National accounts and Agriculture contribution to GDP (SBS) and the Consumer Price Index(SBS).Similarly CBS is both a major producer of data and well as reproducer of data from other data sources fortheir own purposes. The above data are used in the Bank’s monthly reports such as Foreign Trade Report,Selected Economic Indicator Report, Inflation Review and Monetary Survey reports, its QuarterlyBulletins as well as ad hoc Economic Updates for Cabinet and other national meetings etc.Information on lending statistics to agriculture are a priority for CBS. Even though commercial banks arenot keen on lending to this ‘risky’ sector, there are avenues available through the Development Bank ofSamoa for agricultural producers, where farmers can borrow at concessional rates (through a CBS creditline facility).The Central Bank identified a number of data gaps which it considered needed addressing, including: Exports – Gaps are coverage issues like difference in CBS, Custom’s and Quarantine sources Imports – Trying to marry the CBS exports table with the HS (Harmonized CommodityDescription and Coding System) headings and codes. Market survey – the coverage of small road side stalls and whether the current market survey is atrue indicator of overall agricultural production in the country. CPI – Underlying or core inflation measure. Current measure excludes almost 51 percent of thebasket (seasonal and Government-controlled prices). National accounts - Need to update the methodology. IMF have highlighted that contribution oftourism (and agriculture possibly) are undervalued while ‘Other manufacturing’ are quite high.In relation to the National Accounts issue, SBS advised that re-basing of the agricultural sectorcontribution to GDP, taking into account the 2008 HIES and 2009 Agricultural Census etc. was completedand formed part of a follow-up December 2013 quarter GDP release in May 2014. Also the Decemberquarter GDP data was presented on both the old and new bases to provide an understanding of theimpact of this re-basing.

3.6.4. Data Users (Civil Society and NGOs)Samoa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.The Chamber of Commerce and Industry utilises information from the Population Census and LabourMarket Survey to gain an understanding of demographics and labour market activity at a regional level aswell as various economic updates released by SBS, MAF and the Central Bank of Samoa in understandingthe economic implications for Samoa businesses. It uses these data to assist the Samoa FarmersAssociation in implementation of the Agriculture Sector Plan.The Chamber conducts two annual surveys: a Business Conditions and Confidence Survey ofapproximately 300 Chamber members to ascertain economic confidence and own business conditions;and a survey of Chamber members to ascertain views on the Chamber’s operations and services tomember organisations. It also conducts other ad-hoc Surveys, which are generally sample surveys ofmembers, which include Government Sector and private organisations, Women in Business DevelopmentInc., Samoa Hotels Association, Samoa Manufacturers and Exporters Assoc. etc. These surveys are mainlyconducted to assist with the Chamber's preparation of Budget and policy submissions, and are designedand conducted internally, with no SBS involvement.

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Whilst not necessarily a data gap, the Chamber did suggest that the dissemination of data could beimproved. An example provided was that Trade data should also be released in both Excel and pdfformats.Small Business Enterprise Centre SamoaSBEC is a semi-Government organization established to encourage the development of small business inSamoa. It provides financial incentives for new businesses, generally 1-2 years after set-up.SBEC is both a data user and data collector. It regularly uses Population and Agricultural Censuses,Business Surveys and other available data from SBS and MAF in the assessment of small business lendingapplications and guarantees. It also analyses the links between data from the Agricultural and PopulationCensuses.SBEC produces sector profiles, the last ones were done in 2010. Presently it surveys its current clientsonly, but has future plans to extend to others, i.e. Chamber of Commerce, Samoa ManufacturingAssociation.It conducts surveys for every sector. The Agriculture Sector Survey questions small business clients abouthow other sectors rely on agriculture, i.e. the availability and quality of farm produce to restaurants,timber to furniture manufacturing etc.Women in Business Development Inc.Women in Business Development Inc. (WIBDI) is dedicated to strengthening village economies in Samoain ways that honour indigenous tradition, use traditional and modern technology, and promote fair trade.The WIBDI Mission is to empower and equip rural families to cultivate sustainable businesses thatmaximize farm-based resources. WIBDI also facilitates trade with global and regional partners, includingThe Body Shop, All Good Organics and C1Espresso.The organization works in 183 Samoan villages and nurtures certified organic agricultural enterprisesthat annually puts more than SAT$600,000 into the hands of rural families, assisting families toparticipate in the cash economy.Women in Business have become leaders in organic systems in the Pacific Islands. Currently morethan 700 Samoan families, working on 33,000 hectares of land, are fully organically certified tointernational standards (NASAA, the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia).Additionally, five processing companies and four entire villages have been organically certified.3.6.5. Development/Resource PartnersDevelopment Bank of SamoaThe Development Bank of Samoa (DBS) was formed in 1974 to promote the expansion of the economy ofSamoa by making loans and giving financial, technical and advisory assistance to enterprises in Samoa. Itreceives Capital funds from the Samoan Government as well as borrowing from local and foreign sources.Development lending approvals for agriculture (including SACEP) in the year ending 30 June 2014 wereSAT$3.2 million, or 7.5% of total development loans approved. Recent years have seen the financing oflivestock projects increasing dramatically due to efforts to raise animal production to meet food supplydemand. In terms of the DBS overall lending portfolio, agriculture (including SACEP) totalled SAT$14.3million and accounted for 10.5% of total outstanding loans (SAT$136.4 million) as at 30 June 2014.DBS regularly uses existing data from various sources, including SBS, MAF, Central Bank of Samoa and theSamoa Tourism Association to gain an understanding of the market situation when assessing commercialdevelopment lending applications. Agricultural Census data are utilised for appraising agriculturalapplications.The availability of timely data, with detailed agricultural data only available every ten years, wasidentified as a limitation to the Bank’s assessment processes. Also that the data quickly becomes outdated

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as the post-Census years progress. The Bank identified that livestock and rural/urban integrationstatistics would greatly assist their work.

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CHAPTER 4

IN-DEPTH ASSESSMENT OF STATISTICAL ACTIVITIES

4.1. CensusesPopulation and Housing CensusThe Samoa Bureau of Statistics is the agency responsible for conducting the Population and HousingCensus. The census is conducted every five (5) years with the last carried out in 2011. It was the ninthcensus conducted by SBS since Samoa gained political Independence in 1962.The 2011 Population Census was undertaken in October/November 2011 to collect demographic,educational, labour force and other characteristics of the population as well as housing characteristics.The census included an agricultural component which collected information to identify agriculturalhouseholds and numbers of key livestock i.e. cattle, pigs and chickens.The census project preparations commenced in January 2010. The preparation for census 2011 was muchmore complex and complicated in nature and more expensive than any other census preparationspreviously undertaken. One of the major reasons was, for the first time, SBS opted to use scanners tocapture and data process census information rather than the usual computer data entry technology.Secondly, SBS chose to use the GPS (Global Position Systems) devices and associated new mappingsoftware to capture and map out the location of households on the field; and thirdly, SBS adopted theuse of the IN-design-CS4 software to design the new scan census stickers and census questionnaireforms instead of using the usual Excel software for designing the layout of the census questionnaires.All those new technologies and processes impacted greatly on all stages of census preparations in termsof training techniques, training materials, questionnaire design, printing requirements, fieldwork datacollection, data compilation, data processing and dissemination of census results.By July 2010, the census project finally received three sources of funding. The Government of Australia,via AusAID, donated more than two million Samoan Tala (approx. USD880,000) in two phases for the fouryear project (2010-2013); the government of Samoa via its annual budget allocated more than onemillion Tala (approx. USD440,000) to support the project personnel all throughout the project cycle;and UNPFA (United Nations Population Fund) contributed SAT$300,000 (USD130,000) to support censuspublicity and awareness programs and technical personnel from 2010-2012.Much of the technical assistance and support was provided by the different technical staff from theSecretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), by either in-country visits or via internet correspondences.This included GPS and mapping technical advice, advice on scanning applications as well as the use of theIn-Design software for questionnaire design, advice and support in data processing and editing usingCSPro 4.1, and in the preparation of the census training materials as well as the compilation of thePopulation Census analytical report.A Preliminary count report, which included population counts of regions, districts and villages wasreleased on 16 December 2011, six weeks after the official Census enumeration date of 7 November 2011.A Tabulation Report (version one) was released eight months after the preliminary count report inAugust 2012 and a detailed Population and Housing Census Analytical Report and Tabulation Report(version 2)in October 2012.Population Census data were disseminated in both pdf and Excel formats on the SBS website. The Excelformat file contains over 90 spreadsheets, which takes some time to download. Despite several attempts,this author was unable to satisfactorily open the complete Excel spreadsheet file whilst in Samoa. TheExcel document has recently been updated to include a Tables of Contents which greatly simplifies theidentification and access of specific spreadsheets. Previously this information was provided in a separatepdf document.The next Population and Housing Census is planned for November 2016.

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Agricultural CensusSBS undertakes an Agricultural Census every ten years. The last census, conducted in 2009, was the thirdin the series, with previous censuses conducted in 1989 and 1999.The 2009 Agricultural Census was based on FAO World Census of Agriculture guidelines using a multipleframe and a methodology involving two components: the first entailing a complete enumerationcomponent; and secondly, a sample component.All households were required to complete the Household form with those households identified asagriculturally active (i.e. Subsistence, Subsistence and Cash, or Commercial) then required to completethe Holding Form for every holding operated.The sample component was designed to cover 25% of all agricultural holdings, with selections made on asystematic sample basis (every fourth holding selected). These sample agricultural households wereasked to complete a Parcel form, which included details of crops grown and harvested by area or in thecase of plantation crops, tree or plant number details were obtained.Thus while the Household Form was canvassed in respect of all households in Samoa, the Holding Formwas to be completed by agriculturally active Households only and the Parcel form was completed inrespect of 25% of the agricultural holdings.Data collected in the 2009 Agricultural Census included:Household Form (all households) household demographics; type of agricultural activity (i.e. produce for own use or sale etc); livestock numbers by type, including numbers slaughtered or sold; fisheries activity; farm equipment/machinery; consumption of major crops; and forestry plantingsHolding Form (all agriculturally active households) land use and tenure; non-household labour inputs; household agricultural income and credit; and fertiliser and chemical useParcel Form (25% sample of agricultural holdings) crop area grown and harvested by crop type; and tree and plant numbers by crop type (total of 38 crops identified plus other category)The Agricultural Census was linked to the Population Census and used the cartographic material andadministrative boundaries used for the population census in 2006.Agricultural Census data were disseminated via the SBS website in the form of an Analytical Report and aseparate Tabulation Report, both produced in pdf format. Microsoft Excel versions of the various Tableswere also planned for release via the website, however this did not occur. Instead interested usersrequiring data in this format need to contact SBS to obtain the required spreadsheets.The next Agricultural Census is planned for 2019, however the Samoa Strategy for the Development ofStatistics, 2011-21 proposes that an Agriculture Census or Survey be conducted each five years with thenext cycle (Agriculture Survey) planned for 2014. Although this now expected to occur in 2015.In completing the Global Strategy Questionnaires, most stakeholders assessed the accuracy and reliabilityof the Agricultural Census data as either acceptable or workable. As expected with a ten-yearly censuscycle, the major constraints identified related to the lack of regular crop production and livestock data inthe intercensal years, and the limited use of census data after the first few post-census years.

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4.2. Crop statisticsTraditionally the production of tree and food crops has dominated Samoa’s agriculture. Of the total arableland utilised of 80,500 ha, it is estimated that 65% is for cultivation of plantation crops(53,000 ha) and 15% under mixed crops (10,000 ha). However, the impact of natural disasters, namelyhurricanes and infestation by pests and diseases such as the taro blight in the late 1990’s havecontributed to the decline in crop production in the past two decades. The destabilising effects ofexternal shocks have also affected the performance of Samoa’s crop exports due to exchange ratemovements as well as changes in the economic policies of major trading partners. The lack ofinstitutional capacity to competently implement, monitor and evaluate the impact of previousinvestments as well as the failure of farmers and producers to respond to incentives provided have alsocontributed to the decline in crop production.The 2009 Agricultural Census collected information on the area of crops grown and harvested or thenumber of plants and trees grown and harvested. This data was obtained from the 25% samplecomponent of agricultural holdings enumerated. No standard errors, either sampling or non-samplinghave been published for this data.As no crop production data was collected in the census, only crop area or tree and plant numbers, it is notpossible to determine crop yield data.Prior to the 2009 Agricultural Census, sample surveys were conducted in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2005.These surveys were designed to collect information from a 10% sample of households and have not beenconducted since 2005 due to limited funding and consideration that the 1999 sampling frame was nolonger valid after five years. Also, no regular surveys have been conducted even though the 2009Agricultural Census provided an updated sampling frame.The regular survey/census data has not always provided sufficient information for specific programmeplanning purposes and has to be supplemented with tailor-made surveys.The 2013/14 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) collected information on agriculture,fishing and forestry activities, including income derived from main crop and vegetable production,horticulture and floriculture activities. Data from the HIES is currently being prepared ready for release inearly December 2014. This will be a tabulation report with further analysis of the HIES to take place earlyin 2015. There are also plans to produce a Poverty Report based on the HIES results.Whilst a number of stakeholders to the Global Strategy have strongly indicated a desire for regular cropproduction volume data, there remains a question around the ability of operators of agricultural holdingsto accurately estimate their crop production over a twelve month period. This is particularly the casewhere crops are harvested predominantly for a household’s own use, where harvesting occurs irregularlyor where multiple cropping and harvesting occurs each year.Land holders may be better able to estimate average yields for their specific crops, which together withinformation on area of crops or plant numbers harvested may enable some estimate of crop productionvolumes. However the accuracy of such yield estimates is also doubtful.2013 Fruit and Vegetable Survey (F&V Survey)In 2013, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ Crops Division conducted a Fruit and Vegetable Surveyto gather base-line data about the current status of fruit and vegetable production, technologies, holdingsand marketing aspects for the Samoa Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Project (SACEP),financed by the World Bank.Approximately 1,700 holdings were surveyed out of a target sample population of 2,000 holdings, asrecommended by SBS.The survey used a frame compiled from information collected from Advisory Services / agents in Samoa,such as the Ministry of Women Community and Social Development (MWCSD), MAF (Crops AdvisoryService, Agriculture Show registrations and competitions), Women in Business Development Inc.(WIBDI), Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC), Samoa Farmers Association (SFA) and AdventistDisaster Relief Agency (ADRA).

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The F&V Survey collected a wide range of data including: Vegetable and fruit crops grown and sold Land area, tenure, use, method of cultivation, irrigation method and water source Production information, including source of seedlings, plants, cost and information sources Fertilizer and chemical use, volumes and expenditure Labour inputs Loans and credit Farm equipment owned, hired or borrowedThere have been data quality issues with this survey and data has not yet been released. A written reportis expected late 2014. There are currently plans to repeat the Fruit and Vegetable Survey within the nextfew years under SACEP, however this may not be necessary if SBS are able to conduct the proposedAgricultural Survey in 2015.Aside from the ten yearly Agricultural Census, there are currently no regular crop surveys undertaken inSamoa. Surveys such as the MAF 2013 F&V Survey are conducted on an ad hoc needs basis, generallywhen external donor funding is provided.In the absence of a regular and reliable database on agricultural production, production estimatesfor some key crops are gauged through weekly local market surveys (Toleafoa and Vaai compounds,Taufusi and Vaitele Markets, FarmerJoe Saleimoa and Savaia market) and anecdotal evidence fromprevious studies.

4.3. Livestock statisticsThe main livestock animals raised for domestic consumption in Samoa are cattle, poultry (chickens), pigs,goats and more recently sheep.The 2009 Agricultural Census collected information on the total number of cattle on the day ofenumeration, including a breakdown of cows and heifers as well as bulls and steers aged 2 years andover, total number of pigs, chickens, goats, sheep, ducks and horses as well as domesticated animals.The number of livestock by type slaughtered for sale, own consumption or for customary purposes duringthe reference period (2009 calendar year) were also collected along with the number of live animals soldby type during the period.The 2013/14 HIES also collected information on livestock numbers (pigs, chickens, cattle, sheep andothers) income from livestock sales and expenditure incurred. Initial tabular data are expected to bereleased early December 2014.2012 Cattle CensusIn 2012, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ Animal Production and Health Division conducted aCattle Census to gather base-line data for the Samoa Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Project(SACEP). The census was designed to collect crucial information from the maximum number of cattlefarms which would better inform the development of programs for improving competitiveness in cattleproduction, including SACEP interventions addressing herd improvement, pasture development and animproved slaughter system as well as MAF services to cattle farmers.Funding for the cattle census was provided through the World Bank-funded SACEP project as well as fromthe local budget of MAF/APHD, with some additional funding provided by SBS for the recruitment ofoutside enumerators.Households reporting cattle in the 2009 Agricultural Census were targeted for the Cattle Census, with thefollowing information collected from each cattle holding: Geographic coordinates of owners' homes and of their cattle holdings Number and breeds of cattle Herd structure Presence of cattle yards with loading ramps Condition of access roads Frequency of slaughter and markets to which slaughtered animals were sold

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Amount of money spent by farmers on slaughtering animals and transporting carcassesThe Cattle Census also included questions on farm management aspects such as pasture improvementand weed control, breeding management, access of animals to drinking water and farmers’ utilization of,and satisfaction with APHD services.The Ministry’s Cattle Census estimated a total of 29,553 cattle in Samoa during the enumeration period ofFebruary to May 2012. This represented a significant reduction of 24% when compared with thenumbers reported in the 2009 Agricultural Census (38,954 cattle) and even larger difference (34%) whencompared with the more recent 2011 Population and Housing Census (44,987 cattle), which had beenenumerated only three to six months earlier than the Ministry’s Cattle Census.These discrepancies certainly warrant further detailed investigation, as it has raised doubts in the mindsof both SBS and the Ministry’s APHD staff about the accuracy of the other Agency’s data and surveymethodologies.This situation is most unfortunate, but is a good example of where a much closer or even joint surveyoperation between SBS and APHD, particularly during the enumeration, estimation and analysis phases,may have resulted in closer estimates, or at least provided both agencies with a better understanding ofthe reasons for any discrepancies and provided greater confidence in the final results produced. As itcurrently stands, neither organisation appears to have any confidence in the other’s estimates, and thismust also present difficulties for external stakeholders, SACEP, donors and other data users inunderstanding what is the true cattle situation in Samoa.Data from the 2012 Cattle Census are not publicly available on the MAF website.Village Livestock Consultation SurveyDuring 2012/13, APHD conducted a village consultation survey to:1. Promote APHD core functions and services to the local farmers.2. Disseminate new livestock technologies and methodologies to local stakeholders in order toimprove livestock farming.3. Collect livestock information’s for improvement and future planning.4. Enhance project initiation with the availability of donor assistance in which farmers can have accessto funds for developing their livestock farms.5. Identify problems face by the local farmers and for APHD to determine transparent solutions to theproblems in order to achieve high livestock production.Twelve (12) villages were selected based on their low level of livestock development and frequency oflivestock technical support reported to APHD, with six (6) villages each from Upolu and Savaii Islands. Atotal of 298 households were enumerated.It is unclear whether APHD proposes to conduct similar consultations in the same or other villages in thefuture.Aside from the ten-yearly Agricultural Census and five-yearly HIES, there are currently no regularlivestock surveys undertaken in Samoa.Surveys such as the Ministry’s 2012 Cattle Census are therefore conducted on an adhoc needs basis,generally when external donor funding is provided, in this case the World Bank’s financial support of theSamoa Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Project (SACEP).

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4.4. Forestry statisticsAvailable data for Samoa’s forests is dated to 2013/14.A ground-truth survey through the National Forest Inventory (NFI) was conducted in the periodSeptember to December 2013. This NFI was carried out due to the need to create a forest and land coverchange map for comparison with land cover maps that were created during the National Forest Inventoryin 2004.During the last three decades, Samoa’s forests have been depleted to the point of near exhaustion. In1989 it was estimated that 192,000 ha was under forestry, secondary forestry or scrub, equivalent to70% of total arable land. However, remapping of the forest resource in 2003/04 provisionally concludedthat there were very few areas of closed canopy forest remaining in Samoa. Efforts are much focused nowon re-forestation of degraded areas, establishment of community base woodlots, and restoration andmaintenance of land proposed as National Parks and Reserves under MNRE.The National Forest Inventory (NFI) 2013 estimated that approximately 58.3% of Samoa’s land area iscovered by forest, therefore estimates are of a decrease of forest cover from 2004 to 2013 of 1.75%. Thisdecrease in forest cover is basically due to a 0.56% increase in built-up and 2.7% increase in mixed cropsplantations.Of Samoa’s total land area of 283,170 ha, the NFI 2013 shows that 83,536 ha (29.5%) is classified asProduction Forest, 81,513 ha (28.8%) is covered by Protection Forest, while the remaining 118,121 ha(41.7%) is classified as Non Forest.Logging, agricultural clearing, residential clearing, relocation due to tsunami, rising sea level and cycloneshave caused extensive damage and fragmentation to the once dense native forests, opening up theundergrowth to sunlight and creating conditions that favour, and were taken advantage of, by winddispersed, light demanding and fast growing pioneer species, most of them non-native and invasive. Thedepletion of large tracts of tropical hardwoods which formed the basis of the commercial sawmills in the1980s has led to increased focus on sustainable environmental management of the forest resources withselected targeted commercial forest plantations in high value tropical hardwoods.The Forestry Division are now monitoring the operation of sawmills in the country as depicted in theForest Management Act 2011. All sawmills in operation must be registered with the Ministry on anannual basis. In addition, all forest harvesting operations for commercial logging must be signed andapproved by the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment with conditions of regeneration of landfollowing clearing.The forest sub‐sector has developed a new logging code of practice, reviewed timber prices, undertakenresource inventory mapping, and has reviewed legislation, as part of its new forestry sub‐sector plan. Theaim is to develop new ways of protecting the remaining indigenous forest resources and acceleratingreforestation so that a viable forest sector and stakeholder communities are sustained.The first National Forest Policy was approved in 1994 aimed at restoring the balanced multi-usefunctions of forestry, strengthening forestry administration and encouraging customary owners tobecome more committed to the protection of the remaining indigenous forests and reforestation activityIn 2007, the second Forest Policy (review of the first policy) was approved and published. The NationalPolicy on Forestry for Sustainable Development 2007 takes into account the sustainable development offorests in Samoa for their combined environmental, economic, cultural and social benefits for the peopleof Samoa. The Policy discusses two main components that forestry in Samoa should focus on; firstly thenative forests components and secondly the planted forestry component.The Policy aims to benefit society as a whole in perpetuity. Implementation of the policy will enable localpeople to benefit directly from sustainable forest management, promote equitable distribution of costsand benefits and combine conservation and livelihoods.The review of the National Policy on Forestry for Sustainable Development 2007 began in late 2013, toincorporate Climate change information.

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Forestry SurveysThe forestry component of the 2009 Agricultural Census collected information on whether householdshad planted forest trees during 2009 and if so, which of six (6) main species were planted and theexpected uses of this timber.The Government through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment unveiled a tree plantingcampaign that was launched during Environment Week in November 2009, with a target of 1million treesto be planted within three years (by November 2012).This Campaign was part of Samoa's response to minimize deforestation, to curb its negative impacts uponcommunities’ resources as well as on the biophysical environment. The three-year campaign includedtree crops and fruit tree species. Based on preliminary monitoring survey results, the target of 1 milliontrees planted was not only achieved but was exceeded by 250,000 trees for a total of 1.25 million treesplanted out of 1.66 million seedlings distributed to local stakeholders on both Upolu and Savai’i. Not onlywas the target achieved, but it was also achieved well before the end of the programme’s tenure.The National Forest Inventory (NFI) comprised of an interview survey and forest survey in Upolu andSavaii. The purpose of the interview survey was to obtain complementary information related to landowners, land users, and the production and usage of non-timber forest products. The forest surveyfocused on tree biomass and non-tree biomass field surveys, field data entry processing and analysis, andreporting. Those surveys were carried out from August to December 2013. In total, 257 forest surveypoints and 310 households were collected and analysed.Results of the interview survey showed that 304 households interviewed were settled on customary land,while six households were leasing government land. Generally, households are not using their forest forlogging. Approximately 98% of the households use forests to harvest firewood. Around 86% of thehouseholds used various plant species for medication while 81% used the fruits and nuts available in theforest.Prior to granting a forest harvesting license and permits for commercial logging purpose, a pre-harvesting survey is conducted to provide an indication of the available standing volume that can beharvested on the plantation, while the smaller diameter trees could be preserved for future utilization.This survey is conducted upon receipt of applications for a forest harvesting license and permits from theresource owners.4.5. Fisheries and aquaculture statisticsThe Samoa fisheries sector relies mainly on its offshore and inshore reef and lagoon fish resources.Some fisheries-related data was collected in the 2009 Agricultural Census. This included type of fishingactivity undertaken by each household (inshore, offshore or both), capture methods used (i.e. long line,net, spear, trap etc.), frequency of fishing activity, number of households members engaged in fishing bygender and the main purpose of catch (i.e. own use, sale or combination of both).No aquacultureinformation was collected in the Census.The 2009 Agricultural Census reported that approximately 25% of all households in Samoa were engagedin fishing compared with 32.6% of households reported in 1999. It also indicated that the vast majorityof households fished mainly or entirely for home consumption, with only a small portion fishing forcommercial purposes.MAF Fisheries Division SurveysThe Fisheries Division undertakes considerable ongoing survey activity, collecting regular fish marketdata (3 days surveyed each week) and weekly roadside stall data. In addition, Fisheries staff attend thewharves to record catch levels whenever a fishing vessel returns to port following an offshore fishingexpedition. The Division compiles and supplies fisheries catch data on a two-monthly basis to theCommercial Fisheries Management Advisory Committee. This data is not published elsewhere.The Fisheries Division’s most important relationship is with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community(SPC), who provides technical advice, survey support and training and publishes fisheries data on behalfof the Fisheries Division on their SPC website and via hardcopy. Statistical support and assistance is alsoreceived from the Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).

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It was acknowledged by the Division that they should work more closely with SBS, particularly in theearly survey consideration phase and design stage.The Fisheries Division’s conducted a Socio-Economic Survey in 2012 which was funded by the NationalOceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service (NOAA). The questionnaires were developedbased on the SPC framework. Survey results are currently being finalised and printing.There is some variability in the reported fish export data between MAF and the Central Bank of Samoa(CBS) which is attributed to the periodic pricing of fish used by MAF to estimate values while CBS utilisesan annual average to value production. Therefore, although both agencies utilise the same provisionalforms to record data, estimates for the value of fisheries differ due to the pricing methodology adopted.AquacultureThe Strategy for Development of Samoa (SDS) recognises the potential role of aquaculture, and specifiesthat one of the activities is to ‘increase the harvestable stocks of fish and other marine resources’ bydeveloping ‘fish farming to supplement natural stocks’. Real commercial aquaculture has yet to bedeveloped in Samoa, despite previous attempts to culture a range of species. High levels of inputs,specialised facilities and market development requirements contribute to its slow progress.The Fisheries Division advised that there are currently 30-35 aquaculture farmers farming tilapia acrossboth Upolu and Savaii. Divisional representatives visit these farmers on a quarterly basis and collectproduction and fish size information.There are currently no regular aquaculture surveys conducted in Samoa. As this is a potential area ofproduction development, the inclusion of basic aquaculture information could be considered for futureAgricultural Surveys and Censuses.4.6. Agricultural markets and price information systemSamoa runs a significant balance of trade deficit, the value of imports being some sixteen times greaterthan exports. The real contribution of the export sector to Samoa’s economy has generally deterioratedover the last decade which is cause for great concern. Facilitating trade and improving exports remains akey priority for Samoa.In 2010, agricultural-based commodities made up 92% of total merchandise exports and other than fishexports, there are no other major commodities that can stem the decline on the export side. Import valuesof food-based products including fish, meat, fruit and vegetables increased by approximately 37%between 2006 and 2009. However, potential exists for substituting these with similar locally producedproducts which will have a significant impact on reducing Samoa’s current trade imbalance.A system for collecting and disseminating price and related information from the major local marketsexists in Samoa covering fruit and vegetable crops and meat. Both SBS and MAF separately undertakevarious market surveys.Price IndicesSBS compile a monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) which is published on their website.The CPI reports important agricultural commodities, including Taro, Ta’amu, Bananas, Yam, Coconuts,Chinese Cabbages and Breadfruit, plus various meat and fish species as components of the Food and Non-Alcoholic Index.Annual Meat Marketing ReportThe Annual Meat Marketing Report is produced as part of the Ministry of Agriculture and FisheriesAPHD’s requirement under its annual management work‐plan. The report provides a basic marketinganalysis of both locally produced beef and pork meat disposed at meat retail outlets located in the Apiatown area, as well as imported meat data published by SBS over the same period.

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The latest meat marketing report available on the MAF website relates to the twelve month period endingJune 2012. This report estimated that about 98% of the total quantity of meat available for publicconsumption at retailing level was imported, with the vast majority being chicken meat (85%). From anestimated SAT$60million (Samoa Tala currency) worth of total retailed meat, only 4% (SAT$2million)was generated from locally produced meat, predominantly beef and pork.4.7. Water and environment statisticsThere is currently no specific survey activity relating to agricultural water use in Samoa. Irrigation ofagricultural crops is not a common practice in Samoa, as most crops are rain fed.The Livestock Sector Review 2004 identified the need to establish policies for rural water supply focusedon agricultural use to assist the sector’s development. Furthermore, the Water for Life 2008–11document highlighted that this is not likely to compete with other water uses nor will it increase thestress on available water resources, whilst ultimately recommending that strategies be considered forirrigation provision to rural areas to assist in enhancing farming outputs and productivity.A number of key emerging environmental issues in agriculture with significant implications on the futureproductivity and sustainability of the sector have been identified. These include:• Land degradation including erosion, compaction and overuse;• Agro‐chemical pollution of ground and surface water;• Loss of strategic forests and wetlands leading to loss of biodiversity;• Increasing livestock numbers imposing pressure on ecosystems and watershed systems;• Loss of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes through the introduction of non‐native varieties.The monitoring and evaluation of many of these environmental issues form part of the Ministry of NaturalResources and Environment’s (MNRE) State of Environment Reporting responsibilities. MNRE, incollaboration with the SBS, is currently preparing to undertake a National Water, Sanitation and Hygiene(WASH) Baseline Survey during 2014.4.8. Rural development statisticsAs part of their Sector Plan monitoring and reporting responsibilities, several ministries have an interestin information relating to rural development. This includes village-level information on issues such asroad infrastructure, market access, access to electricity, sources of drinking water, waste water andsanitation methods etc.The five-yearly Population and Housing Census and Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES)collects household-level information on electricity, water and sanitation methods, however informationrequirements specific to agriculture rural infrastructure and development are not collected.MNRE’s Planning and Urban Management Agency conducts an Annual Urban Sanitation Survey whichcollects information around septic tank systems etc.4.9. Food security and nutritionSamoa has become increasingly dependent on food imports. Over the last decade, whilst agriculturalexports have been falling, food imports have been steadily rising. Food and live animal imports amountedto almost SAT$193 million in 2011, representing about 24 percent of total imports (SBS data) and arenow approaching a level nine times the value of agriculture exports. The increasing reliance on importedfood coupled with high food and oil prices puts a burden on foreign reserves and poses a risk to thestability of food supplies.Traditionally, food security has always been achieved through sustainable agriculture and fishingpractices relying mostly on traditional food crops. More recently, as demands continued to grow for morevariety and quality, food imports were brought in to supplement these excess demands. However, theever increasing reliance on imports, effects of climate change, decrease in agricultural activity and effort,migration and the attraction of other high yield sectors have resulted in the threatening of local foodsupply and questions about its ability to sustain local livelihoods and nutrition have become an issue.

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Subsistence farming in traditional crops (taro, bananas, cocoa and cassava) and livestock (cattle, pigs andpoultry) is primarily encouraged to enhance production for national food security and target povertyalleviation. The Samoa Government has continued to promote a targeted community based program“Talomua” to encourage people to go back to the land and ensure adequate access to traditional crops andlivestock.Despite having a large subsistence agriculture sector, households remain very vulnerable to increases infood and fuel prices, particularly when faced with the loss of cash income due to a reduction inremittances or loss of employment. Households in the lowest expenditure quintile spend about 55percent of their total expenditures on food (HIES, 2008). These households are hardest hit when thecost of the food basket increases, such as it did in 2008. Rising food prices coupled with the challenges ofrapidly increasing levels of food and nutrition-related diseases in Samoa, make it imperative thatincreased emphasis is placed on the production and consumption of nutritious local foods.These food and nutrition related diseases, including Diabetes, hypertension, obesity, coronary heartdisease etc impact negatively on the health system, families and the national economy. These diseasesare now the leading cause of death in Samoa, as obesity rates have grown from 25.5% in 1978 to 67.5% in2001, among the highest rates in the world.Consequently, the government, through its Fruit and Vegetables Strategy is prioritizing the productionand consumption of local food products with high nutritional value.The 2009 Agricultural Census collected some information on household consumption of major crops andthe 2013/14 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) collected information on household foodproduction and consumption. This information is extremely important in terms of assessing thenutritional aspect of Samoan household diets and in preparing a Food Balance Sheet.4.10. Other domainsCountry level export and import data are obtained from Samoa Customs Services, collated anddisseminated by SBS on a quarterly basis via their website.Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES)SBS conduct a Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) every five years to collect data on bothhousehold income and expenditure, the production and consumption of home produced foods and othercommodities, household demographics, employment/activity, education attainment, and householdcharacteristics including access to water and sanitation, and energy utilisation for cooking and lighting.The latest HIES is currently in data processing with preliminary tabulated results expected to be releasedin December 2014. This is the fourth HIES to be conducted in Samoa, with the previous surveys held in1997, 2002 and 2008.System of National AccountsSBS is the responsible agency for compilation of National Accounts Statistics. The compilations of thenational accounts are currently done quarterly under the UN SNA versions 1993 and 2008.In the absence of regular agricultural surveys providing crop production and livestock counts, SBScalculate the Agriculture sector GDP share using the most recent HIES (2008) and Agricultural Census(2009) data as the benchmarks for crops and livestock respectively, with movement indicators based onvolumes and values from a monthly Local Market Survey undertaken by SBS and Export trade dataprovided by Samoa Customs Services.Fisheries Division data on ocean fisheries unloadings and inshore fisheries data obtained from the mostrecent HIES are used to calculate the Fisheries sector GDP.

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CHAPTER 5

INTEGRATION OF AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS INTO NSS

5.1. Extent of integration in Agricultural data collections

5.1.1. Use of standard concepts and definitions across censuses and surveysSamoa has adopted international classifications as below: ISIC Rev. 4 (International Standard Industrial Classification) SITC Rev. 4 (Standard International Trade Classification) at1 digit ISCO-08 (International Classification of Occupations) HS 2012 (Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System) at8 digits COICOP 2012 (Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose) at 9 digitsThe need to clarify definitions of subsistence and commercial farming operations as well as agriculturalhouseholds was identified by both SBS and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Thesubsistence/commercial production delineation is most important as the two farming systems have quitedifferent development objectives.

5.1.2. Use of common frames (List/Area/Multiple Frames), remote sensing and cadastral mapsThe 2009 Agricultural Census used the cartographic material and administrative boundaries used for the2006 Population and Housing Census.5.1.3. Use of GIS to map households, agricultural holdings and land parcelsGIS information of agricultural households was not collected in the 2009 Agricultural Census. The lowestlevel of geography enumerated was the village level.However, for the first time, GIS information was collected in the pre-listing process in the lead-up to the2011 Population Census. This information, together with the most recent satellite images, were utilizedto produce maps of a total of 878 enumeration areas throughout Samoa.The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ Animal Production and Health Division (APHD) also recordedGIS coordinates of both the household location and actual cattle holding location for all livestockhouseholds enumerated in their Cattle Census 2012.5.1.4. Existence of Master Sampling Frame for agricultural census/surveysA list of households in respect of each enumeration block in the country was prepared in 2005 for the2006 Population and Housing Census. The updated household list from this Population Census was thenused as a frame for the 2009 Agricultural Census.The frame of agricultural households from the 2009 Agricultural Census was subsequently used by theMinistry of Agriculture’s APHD in their Cattle Census 2012 and by the Ministry’s Crops Division indetermining the sample population for their 2013 Fruit and Vegetable Survey. However, there is nomechanism in place to keep the frame updated.5.1.5. Existence of integrated databasesThere are currently no integrated databases, although several Ministries have commenced projects tocentralise their own respective data holdings. However, most of these data holdings are only accessibleby individual agency staff, i.e. they are not shared across agencies.There are currently no plans to integrate data across the various Ministries and SBS nor to provide aconsolidated data holding for Samoa.

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5.1.6. Other areasWhilst there is considerable agricultural and rural information collected and maintained by variousorganisations within Samoa, much of this data is not publicly accessible, and the existence of this data isnot known or understood by other users. There is also no consolidated listing of all data that is currentlyavailable.The MAF website, when available, contains minimal information about its survey operations or statisticalreports, and what information is available is quite dated and inconsistent. For example, the most recentAnnual Reports available relate to 2010/11 and only then for some of its Divisions. It was reported that,due to problems and delays in loading data onto the MAF website, the Ministry’s Fisheries Divisionforwards its catch data to the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) for publication on their website.However, there is no advice or link to this information from the MAF website.Statistical Software CapabilitySBS used a variety of statistical programs in the 2009 Agricultural Census for its data entry, processingand analysis and dissemination operations. These included CSPro and Microsoft Excel for data processingand Microsoft Access and Excel and SPSS for data analysis.Data are most commonly collected through personal interviews, with centralised manual data entry at alater date.No scanning technology was utilised for the 2009 Agricultural Census, however scanning was introducedfor the first time for the capture of questionnaires enumerated in the 2011 Population and HousingCensus. The Population Census questionnaires were designed using In-design-CS4 software to meetscanning equipment requirements.Databases are maintained in Microsoft Excel format.5.2. Duplication in data collectionAs there are no regular, i.e. annual, agricultural data collections, duplication is not a large issue. Theexception is agricultural commodity export data which is separately published by both the Central Bankof Samoa (CBS) and SBS and is also collected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ QuarantineDivision.The export data reported by SBS and which is used in determining the agriculture sector's share of GDP, isactual export data provided by Customs Services. It is the most comprehensive and accurate export dataavailable. SBS release the commodity export value data on their website (www.sbs.gov.ws) in theirquarterly Merchandise Trade report.Data published in the Central Bank's quarterly Bulletin are based on export registrations made directly tothem by exporters. It was acknowledged that there may be some understating in these data, particularlyas not all exporters register their export intentions with CBS, even though they are required to do this.Also, some exporters who register their intentions with the Bank may subsequently decide againstexporting or defer their exports to a later date, and often this decision is not advised to the Bank.There are also various market price and commodity throughput collection activities undertaken,including by SBS for their CPI and other financial accounts’ deliberations and by some of the Ministry ofAgriculture and Fisheries Divisions. It is possible that some of this activity could be reduced if moreregular production data was available.

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5.3. Scope for building synergies and partnershipsThe potential for closer working relationships and partnerships between SBS and MAF is identified invarious other sections of this report.This issue is addressed in more detail in section 8.1.5.4. Other activitiesGiven the difficult financial position in Samoa, and the previous reliance on external funding from AusAIDfor their previous Agricultural Census, conducting annual agricultural surveys appears neither achievablenor feasible.It is therefore necessary to consider other data collection strategies which will not impose considerableadditional costs on SBS. One possible option is the inclusion of an agricultural module, to collect minimumcore agricultural data items, on existing and funded household collections such as the Population andHousing Census and the HIES Survey. This information would supplement the detailed agricultural andrural data collected each five years or so through either an Agricultural Census or Agricultural Survey.It is acknowledged that this approach will present a number of challenges, particularly in relation to theHIES, where sample and sub-sample design, agricultural content, and reference period issues will need tobe carefully considered. However, by utilising such an approach it may be possible to collect agriculturaland rural data on a more regular basis than the current five or ten-yearly scenario.The Secretariat of Pacific Community (SPC) has commenced work on developing a standard HIES contentfor adoption across the various Pacific nations, including an agricultural module which could be adaptedto provide core data items relevant to each specific country. The SPC-developed HIES has recently beentrialled in the Solomon Islands and is very similar in terms of agricultural content to the 2013/14 SamoaHIES questionnaire.

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CHAPTER 6

MINIMUM SET OF CORE DATA

6.1. Accepted national minimum set of core dataSamoa currently does not have a regular (i.e. annual or biennial) agricultural survey program in place.The Population and Housing Census, Agricultural Census and HIES do collect key agricultural and ruralinformation. However, the frequency of these activities, at five or ten-yearly intervals, is consideredinsufficient to meet the needs of Samoa’s government ministries and other public and privateorganisations for reliable, accurate and timely information.Under the Government Samoa Strategy Development 2012-16, most government ministries are requiredto have sector plans which require regular monitoring and evaluation of progress, usually on an annual orbiennial basis. Similarly, many non-Government and private organisations have strategic or businessplans which are monitored on an ongoing basis.There is a clearly identified need to introduce some form of regular and sustainable statistical systemwithin Samoa to produce the basic agricultural information needed to guide evidence-based decisionmaking. This is consistent with the main purpose of the Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural andRural Statistics.Whilst regular information on crop production and livestock numbers are critical to any such agriculturestatistical system, the Global Strategy provides guidance and suggestions on other areas of economic data,social data, environmental data and geographic references which are considered important to “completethe picture” and provide for informed planning and policy decision making across the agriculture sector.The data items identified in Annex II have been identified as forming a minimum core data set for Samoa.For example, the six crop types identified, namely Coconut, Taro, Banana, Cocoa, Ta’amu and Breadfruit,are the main crops grown in terms of area, as reported in the 2009 Agricultural Census. However it isimportant that other considerations such as production value, export importance, food and dietarysignificance, secondary processing or value-adding potential etc. are also considered in determining whatother crops should be included in any country core data set.During the second Stakeholder Workshop conducted on 29 May 2014, another root crop, TaloPalagi, wasidentified as becoming increasingly important from a manufacturing perspective.From the perspective of global crop production, none of the eight core crops identified as importantglobally, namely wheat, maize, barley, sorghum, rice, sugar cane, soybeans and cotton, are grown inSamoa. The country is therefore fully reliant on the importation of these products for its domesticconsumption.The story is different for livestock, where the main livestock categories in Samoa, namely cattle, pigs,chickens and sheep, all form part of the globally important core livestock groups.6.2. Data gaps and future requirementsThe timely availability of accurate and relevant agricultural data and business statistics is critical to theformulation of policies and strategies as well as the monitoring and evaluation of sector performance.This baseline data required for quantitative analysis of sector performance and for setting quantitativetargets for the subsectors is currently incomplete, out of date or not available at all. The lack of reliabledata led to the discontinuation of the publication of key indicators of agricultural production by theCentral Bank of Samoa (CBS) in 1997. The lack of regular production data has impacted on the capacity tocompile annual Food Balance Sheets and has also led to the weakening of the MAF ManagementInformation System (MIS).The monthly market surveys conducted by SBS and MAF for agricultural and fisheries production arecurrently the primary basis for estimating national production. However, it seems that the number ofmarkets surveyed changes greatly between months reporting unreliable results. As a considerable

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amount of agriculture activity in the subsistence/informal sector occurs outside of markets, concernswere expressed regarding the National Accounts’ coverage of this non-market activity, implying thatcurrent GDP figures may perhaps understate the importance of the sector.A joint FAO/MAF Planning Workshop, convened in early 2011 to consider implementation of theMinistry’s Agriculture Sector Plan, considered what data (evidence) was needed, how data could be usedto assess the performance of interventions, how data could be captured (the balance between cost andrepresentativeness) and the key data collecting institutions etc.Having reviewed the practices at that time, workshop attendees concluded that a lack of priority (demandand use) and lack of resources and capacity still prevailed; that while merchandise trade data (importsand exports) were generally available and improving, data on production, labour markets, market pricesand functionality and household characteristics were still weak or absent. Further, that the lack ofanalysis and value adding of agriculture data represents a serious weakness if policy making is toimprove, and nationally driven data collection and management is to improve in a sustainable way. Alsothat there needed to be a strong partnership between the National Statistical Office (SBS), the Ministry ofAgriculture and Fisheries and other data suppliers and users.This In-depth Country Assessment concluded that the majority of these findings equally apply in late2013/14.It also suggested that there was a need to demonstrate the use and value ($) of data for decision makersand that capacity building should focus on analysis and dissemination of policy relevant information asmuch as its collection. It was proposed that domestic market data could be used to measure the pulse ofnational agriculture production and the commercialization and impact of both domestic and externalfactors on this. To this end the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Sub-regionalOffice for the Pacific Islands (FAO SAP) initiated and published a series of domestic market studies in2011 and 2012 to demonstrate the use and value of domestic market data in assessing key policy issuesacross the region, including Samoa. The findings of the Samoa study resulted in the widening of local fruitand vegetable markets surveyed on a regular basis.As detailed in Annex II, most of the globally identified ‘core’ agricultural and rural data items have been orare currently collected in Samoa, however the regularity of the collections or surveys is much lessfrequent than is both required and recommended. For example, key data items such as crop area andlivestock numbers are only collected each ten years in the Agricultural Census, or more regularly in thecase of cattle numbers which are also collected in the five-yearly Population Census or HIES. The GlobalStrategy recommends that these and other core data be collected annually, where possible.There are other important core data items which are currently not collected at all, including cropproduction (volumes) or yields, aquaculture fisheries activity, value of farm inputs, i.e. fertilizers,pesticides, seeds and animal feeds, as well as crop and livestock products used in agro-processing.Also, some data items have been collected in what might be termed ad-hoc or opportunistic surveyactivities, usually where donor funding is provided. Recent examples include the 2012 Cattle Census and2013 Fruit and Vegetable Survey both funded by the World Bank-initiated Samoa AgricultureCompetitiveness Enhancement Project (SACEP). These are generally one-off survey activities to collectbase line information to inform program initiatives.Often, there is no funding provision to undertake future follow-up survey activities to assess programperformance. This is where the proposed five-yearly alternating Agricultural Census/Agricultural Surveyprogram is particularly important to collect data that is critical for monitoring and evaluation purposes.It is clear from stakeholders and data user feedback that a sustainable statistical system within Samoawhich produces more regular and timely agricultural information is needed. Ideally such a system shouldprovide for the annual collection of the more important ‘core’ data items, with other data collected on aless regular basis, such as in the five-yearly Population and Housing Census or five-yearly AgriculturalCensus or Survey.

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CHAPTER 7

ASSESSMENT OF CAPACITY TO PRODUCE CORE DATA

7.1. Overall capacity profile of SamoaSamoa has conducted nine Population and Housing Censuses since 1962 and three Agricultural Censusessince 1989. It also produces a regular and ongoing system of national accounts and other finance,economic and social data.In addition, SBS has conducted Agricultural Surveys in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2005 which collectedinformation from a 10% sample of households.The challenge, particularly for SBS and MAF, will be to find the necessary resources, both financial andhuman, to enable it to deliver and maintain a regular and sustainable agricultural and rural statisticssystem into the future, including annual data collection activities.7.2. Financial resourcesIn the preface to the 2009 Agricultural Census Analytical Report, it was mentioned that the Census wasconducted with financial support from the Government of Australia under the ‘Samoa and AustraliaPartnership Arrangement’. The estimated cost of the 2009 Agricultural Census was SAT$700,000(US$300,000 equivalent), with AusAID’s contribution estimated at SAT$400,000 and the SamoaGovernment contributing the remaining SAT$300,000. It is likely that without significant externalfinancial assistance the Census would not have been possible.The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) also provided valuable technical support to the Census.Given that external financial assistance is considered crucial to conduct a ten-yearly Agricultural Census,it does certainly raise the issue of how an annual (or even biennial) survey program can be facilitatedwithout some form of external funding or in-kind assistance, at least in the initial stages.The lack of funds available for field-oriented statistical activities and transport equipment for fieldactivities was identified by SBS as a high level constraint to their ongoing statistical operations.Whilst access to annual agricultural statistics, including crop production and livestock data would be thepreferred outcome for Samoa, the introduction of any new survey activity would require additionalfinancial resources, including sufficient budgets to ensure adequate statistical staffing levels in therelevant ministries, i.e. SBS and Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, as well as sufficient administrativefunds to support field-based activities.The cost of conducting an agricultural sample survey of some 10% of agriculture households is estimatedby SBS at around SAT$245,000. However, it should be noted that is primarily for stakeholderconsultation, pilot testing, field enumeration, data entry and report dissemination, but excludes SBS staffcosts.Samoa currently has plans to conduct an agricultural census or agricultural survey every five years.However, a current lack of government funding means that external donor funding will be required toensure that the 2014 agricultural survey occurs, which is now more likely to be in 2015, one year laterthan previously planned.While it may be possible to secure donor funding in the short term to ensure that the agricultural surveycan proceed, a commitment to provide appropriate levels of domestic funding to establish and maintain aregular agriculture statistics programme in Samoa will also be essential.Very little information provided by SBS and MAF in relation to their financial resources situation, such asthe level of budget currently being utilised for agricultural statistics, and future budget availability. Thisinformation is essential in determining future capacity to introduce a desired agricultural statisticssystem in Samoa.

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7.3. Human Resources

7.3.1. StaffingSBS currently has approximately 70 professional staff engaged in statistical activities. Two of theseprofessional staff and five technical support staff are involved in the production of agricultural statistics,but not solely, as they also have trade, household income and expenditure as well as transport subjectmatter responsibilities.SBS has assessed the number of professional and technical support staff available for statistical activitiesas a significant constraint to their ongoing operations, with the turnover of professional staff a relevantconstraint.The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has approximately 70 staff in each of their Livestock-APHD andFisheries Divisions, 214 staff including casuals in their Crops Division and 11 staff in their Policy,Planning and Communications Division (PPCD). The Fisheries Division has six professional level staff andeight technical support staff involved in the production of fisheries statistics, whereas the Crops andLivestock-APHD Divisions have very few people whose specific role is to produce agricultural statistics.The Ministry does not support an extension officer program, so has no field staff.The Ministry’s PPCD identified the number of professional and technical support staff available forstatistical activities as a dominant constraint (the highest level reportable) to the Division’s ongoingoperations.The need for closer cooperation and collaboration between the various MAF Divisions and with SBS wasacknowledged, as was the need for increased funding and capacity building in both SBS and lineministries.The turnover of professional staff was identified as a relevant constraint for SBS and a dominantconstraint for the Ministry’s Crops Division, but was less of an issue for the other MAF Divisions.7.3.2. TrainingSBS have identified the technical skills of statistical staff as a dominant constraint to the Bureau’soperations, and in particular the need for increased technical capacity in selecting sample for agriculturesurveys.The turnover of professional staff was assessed as a relevant constraint, as is maintaining subject matterknowledge and competence in agricultural survey operations and statistics given the current ten yearperiods between agricultural censuses.MAF have specifically identified training in statistical and survey techniques as well as analytical skills asa priority need.In the past three years, both SBS and MAF have received funding support and important technicalassistance from Development Partners and Donor Agencies such as the World Bank, SPC, FAO, AusAID,NZAid, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific(SIAP).Other Pacific Regional Organisations including the Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) andSecretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) also support the sector throughspecific programs for capacity building in fisheries, crops, livestock and forestry.7.4. Use of ICT in data processSBS has approximately fifty (50) personal computers, two of which are available for agricultural statistics.Both have internet connectivity.The Ministry’s Crops, Livestock-APHD and Fisheries Divisions have around fifty-five (55) personalcomputers in total, of which 80% are connected to the internet and ten (10) are used for agriculturalstatistics.

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7.4.1. Data collectionAgricultural censuses and surveys conducted by SBS or MAF are most commonly collected throughpersonal interviews, with responses recorded on paper forms requiring manual data entry into computersystems.Scanning technology has not as yet been adopted for the collection of agricultural information, however,with scanning introduced for the first time for the data capture of questionnaires enumerated in the 2011Population Census, the introduction of scanning for future agriculture census/surveys is an option forconsideration.However, given the relatively small number of households to be enumerated in Samoa, estimated at26,200 in the 2011 Population Census, the use of hand-held electronic devices such as tablet computersor smart phones may be a better data collection option. Such a device provides for real time editing andcorrection of information entered whilst at a household, with data then uploaded to a central server viathe internet each evening.7.4.2. Data processingTechnologies adopted by SBS and MAF for data processing of the agricultural census/surveys haveincluded CSPro and Microsoft Excel with Microsoft Access, Excel and SPSS used for data analysis.Databases are maintained in Microsoft Excel format.7.4.3. Data disseminationThe Bureau of Statistics has a website at http://www.sbs.gov.ws for hosting official statistics for thecountry, which is accessible to external users. SBS has undertaken considerable redevelopment of itswebsite in the past year, including establishing a new Document Library page from where all releaseddata can be accessed.However, the vast majority of data is provided in pdf format only, with only the 2011 Population Censussupported by tabular data in Microsoft Excel format. Providing information in spreadsheet format wouldgreatly assist users to import data into their own systems for analysis and reporting purposes.Data estimates from the 2002 Agricultural Survey were released in Excel format via the SBS website, butthis was discontinued and data from the subsequent 2004 and 2005 surveys and 2009 AgriculturalCensus were released in pdf format only.The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ new website (as at November 2014) is currently underconstruction. Whilst the previous website provided copies of both volumes of the Agriculture Sector Plans2011-15, there was, and still is, very limited information about its survey operations or statistical reports,and what little information is available is often dated and inconsistent. For example, whilst previously themost recent Annual Reports available were for reference year 2010/11 and not for all Divisions, these areno longer available.As a result of problems and delays in loading data onto the MAF website, the Ministry’s own FisheriesDivision has resorted to publishing its catch data on the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)website. However, there is no information to this effect on the MAF website or any links provided to theSPC-loaded data.A check of other Ministry websites and those of public and private organisations revealed that most haveoperational websites where their annual plans, annual reports and other publications are generallyaccessible.

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7.5. Physical InfrastructureSBS staff are based on two floors of the Government Office building in the capital, Apia, another office inthe Development Bank of Samoa Building and a field office in Savai’i. The office facilities are quite basic interms of accommodation, space, furniture, and limited access to other facilities such as Meeting andConference Rooms. Not every employee has a personal computer and internet access is variable and attime unreliable. SBS has a very small vehicle fleet (four vehicles including one four wheel drive vehicle).Transport equipment for field activities has been identified as a dominant constraint to Bureauoperations.Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries staff are located in several different Head Office locations and fieldoffices, where the standard of accommodation ranges from extremely basic and run down to verymodern. Staff in the Fisheries, Crops, Livestock-APH and Policy, Planning and Communications Divisionsare all located in separate buildings, up to 20 minutes travelling time from each other. This physicaldislocation is certainly neither ideal nor preferable and potentially lends itself to Divisions operatingindividually and independently in terms of processes, systems, data storage and accessibility.

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CHAPTER 8

STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS (SWOT)

8.1. Overall agricultural statistical systemThe SWOT matrix for the Samoa agriculture sector, including fisheries and forestry statistical program ispresented in Annex III. The matrix provides a summary of the key issues, strengths and weaknesseswhich are currently having an impact on the agricultural statistics system in Samoa, as well as severalopportunities which may influence efforts to address these weaknesses. It will be important thatstrategies developed build on the existing strengths whilst grasping the opportunities to improve thestatistical methods and practices used to produce regular (preferably annual or at least biennial)estimates of households, crops, livestock and other important agriculture-related social and economicdata.It will also be important to mitigate against the identified threats, which although few in number, have thepotential to stall or even prevent adoption of a workable agricultural statistical system in the country.Samoa has developed a sound foundation for its National Statistical System (NSS) with the Government'soverarching Strategy for the Development of Samoa, 2012-16, underpinned by the Ministry’s AgricultureSector Plan 2011-15and the SBS Samoa Strategy for the Development of Statistics, 2011-21 and otherministry Sector Plans.The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and other ministries are focussing much attention on theirrespective Sector Plans. The requirement for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of activities andoutcomes presents as an ideal opportunity to develop an agricultural statistics system which closelyaligns with and meets the key information needs of the sector.A major weakness identified through the In-depth Country Assessment phase was the lack of availableinformation and evidence upon which to base sound planning and policy decisions. This weakness isprimarily due to the lack of regular collection and survey activity. Whilst some aspects of agriculturalactivity may not change greatly from one year to another, irrigation or cultivation methods for example,there are various production and other data which are required at least annually, i.e. crop production andyields, livestock counts, impact of climatic events etc.The lack of available information is further compounded by the fact that some collected data is notpublicly available. A critical component of any statistical system is the adoption of an effectivedissemination methodology which ensures that information is available and accessible to policy makersand users. The internet provides one such medium for this dissemination, therefore it was disappointingthat some ministry and organisation websites appeared to not being maintained or effectively utilised todisseminate important information that was collected or is held by that agency.Samoa is a small Pacific nation with a population of approximately 188,000 people, 80 per cent who arerural population, comprising 26,000 households and with over a third of the employed populationengaged in subsistence activity (agriculture, farming and fishing). The smallness of the country, presentschallenges in terms of limited funding and human resources to support and sustain an ongoingagriculture and rural statistical system for the country.Financial resources, including an adequate budget to both introduce and sustain an ongoing agriculturestatistical system will be critical. This includes the provision of adequate statistical staffing levels in bothSBS and MAF, and administrative funds to support field activities.Capacity building and the up skilling of technical staff in agriculture subject matter, sample surveyoperations and analytical skills has been consistently identified as a current weakness and a significantconstraint to the operations of several agencies. There is a real opportunity to garner support from FAOand SPC to assist both key agencies in building their respective expertise in the areas of weakness.While it may be possible to secure donor funding in the short term to establish a regular agriculturestatistics programme, a commitment to provide appropriate levels of domestic funding to maintain such asystem will also be essential.

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Relationships and partnerships, particularly between SBS and MAF, as well as with other data suppliersand users need to be further developed and strengthened. There are a number of strategies which couldassist this partnership strengthening and are worthy of consideration, including joint survey and projectcollaborations, staff exchanges between organisations, and the out posting of experienced SBSstatisticians to MAF and other ministries to provide advice and assistance with survey activities andstatistical analysis.The ability to generate agricultural survey or census data for non-standard geographical regions, otherthan the standard administrative regions generally used, would also be a valuable development.Organisations such as MNRE have reporting responsibilities for various topographical or geographicregions, which at present are not accommodated by the standard administrative statistical regions.8.2. Major sub-sectorsIn terms of the SWOT analysis, most of the issues identified relate to the whole agriculture sector, ratherthan being specific to any sub-sectors.Data on production, labour markets, market prices and functionality and household characteristics areconsidered weak or absent. The lack of analysis and value adding of agriculture data represents a seriousweakness if policy making is to improve and nationally driven data collection and management is toimprove in a sustainable way.Fishery surveys are for the most part conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries with someinformation of household fishing activity collected in the ten-yearly Agricultural Census and five-yearlyHIES.Forestry surveys are for the most part conducted by MNRE.

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CHAPTER 9

PRIORITY AREAS FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING NEEDS

9.1. Technical AssistanceIn terms of technical assistance required, it will be critical that any strategy to improve agricultural andrural statistics in Samoa considers not only the short term but also the ongoing sustainability of thesystem.9.1.1. Filling data gapsAs previously identified, the lack of regular agricultural statistic’s activity has meant that there aresignificant data gaps that need to be addressed. The current collection and release of importantagriculture production and activity information every ten years simply clearly does not meet the need forregular and ongoing data to enable effective policy and planning decision making.The challenge therefore is not only determining the important data gaps to be filled, but also thecomponents of an effective and efficient agriculture and rural statistical survey program to address theidentified shortfalls.It will also be important to develop a sustainable survey strategy covering a ten to fifteen year cycle whichcan be considered by the various Government agencies and sector organisations. Such a strategy shouldconsider linkages with the Population and Housing Census and other programmed survey activities, suchas the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) and Labour, Education and Skills Survey, eachconducted at five-yearly intervals.The possible inclusion of an agriculture module on the five-yearly HIES will present a number ofchallenges which may require technical assistance and support from FAO, SPC or other organisations.These include sample and sub-sample design issues, agricultural content design, and consideration ofreference period issues (i.e. the HIES is conducted over four quarters with four independent householdsamples).However, these challenges could be more than offset by the significant benefits of collectingsupplementary agricultural and rural data on a more regular basis than the current five or ten-yearlyscenario.9.1.2. Development of master sample frameSBS have previously developed master sample frames following the Population and AgriculturalCensuses, which have been used by both SBS and MAF for subsequent survey activities. However, the tenyear interval between Agricultural Censuses resulted in agricultural survey activity halting after a fewpost-Census years, as confidence in the quality of the frame diminished.Technical assistance will be required around maintaining a suitable frame as the post-Census years pass,and how the agriculture frame may be revitalised by the five-yearly Population Census, particularly if theten-yearly Agricultural Census cycle is retained.9.1.3. Development of road map for SPARSAs there is currently no strategic plan for agricultural and rural statistics in Samoa, technical support andadvice in preparing such a plan will be essential. Critical to this will be the challenge of garneringstakeholder agreement on both the strategy to deliver the required agricultural and rural data, as well asthe range of data required for monitoring and evaluation of Government agency sector plans andassociated planning and policy activities.The Global Strategy project can commence this development, however the fairly short project timeframe(5-6 months) will mean that ongoing support and assistance will be required. Again FAO, and perhapsSPC are best placed to provide this ongoing support and assistance.

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FAO has committed resources through its Technical Cooperation Programme to provide capacity buildingsupport to improve sector data collection and management systems, policy analysis and economicanalysis of farming systems and value chains. FAO has also identified policy work and strategic planningas focus area for the fisheries and forestry subsectors.9.1.4. Preparing country proposalsThe IdCA process aims to assess the agricultural statistics system in the country and the nationalcapability to produce the required statistics, as a means to determining what national and internationalcapacity building efforts are needed to improve the statistics. In many countries, it is recognized thatinternational support will be needed in the technical assistance, training and research.In this report, the agricultural statistics system in Samoa has been documented and data collectionmethodologies evaluated, with attention given to the need for more regular agricultural and ruralstatistics, integration of statistics into the national statistics system and the minimum set of core datarequired for international comparisons. A capacity assessment is also provided including staff resourcesand the use of information technology. The aim has been to provide the information necessary to designand deliver the required support to carry out the necessary improvements to the agricultural statisticssystem.The report has highlighted the weaknesses in the existing agricultural statistics system in Samoa: lack ofregular data collections; sample surveys are not widely used; the degradation of master sample framegiven current Census infrequency; data collection activities between agencies are not always coordinated;doubts surrounding accuracy of ad hoc survey data, methodologies are not always sound; agro-environmental statistics are unavailable, data sources for National Accounts are weak in some areas;information and communication technology is not fully utilized; and statistical staff lack skills intechniques such as sampling and data analysis.Addressing these weaknesses will take time and will be part of the PARIS21, NSDS and SPARS initiatives.In the short-term, a Country Proposal will be prepared, based on this IdCA report, to seek support inpriority areas, especially improving data availability and quality for the minimum set of core dataprovided under the Global Strategy.9.2. TrainingSBS has identified the technical skills of statistical staff as a dominant constraint to improving agriculturalstatistics. The current infrequent nature of agriculture statistical activities presents difficulties in bothdeveloping staff and retaining both the necessary subject matter skills and often agriculture staff aresubsumed into other areas of statistics. The introduction of a more regular system of agriculturestatistical collections will help address the subject matter knowledge gaps and build expertise inagricultural statistics.Although SBS has successfully conducted several Agricultural Censuses, the most recent in 2009,supplemented by a number of annual surveys following the 1999 Agricultural Census, it specificallyidentified improving the technical capacity in selecting sample for agriculture surveys as a priority.Responses from the Ministry’s four Divisions, whilst often quite varied in terms of the assessment oflevels of constraints specific to their operations, did generally indicate issues around the number ofprofessional staff for statistical purposes, their technical skills and the turnover of professional staff.9.2.1. In basic statistical methodsThe current level of basic understanding is weak and needs significant improvement across staff in anumber of areas related to collection and use of statistics.9.2.2. Methods used in agricultural statisticsSBS identified the need to implement a sound methodology for agricultural surveys as a significantconstraint to their operations. As it has been several years since SBS last conducted a sample agriculturalsurvey, specific development in sample design methods will be important.

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9.2.3. In advanced statistical methodsAny introduction of sample survey methodologies will require the measurement and publication ofstandard error rates, both sampling and non-sampling. This will assist users in both understanding andhaving confidence in the final data outcomes. As error rates have not previously been produced, even forthe Agricultural Census sample component, SBS staff will require training in associated practices andestimation software systems.Training for key stakeholders and their staff in understanding the relative merits of estimates producedfrom sample surveys versus a census should also be considered.9.2.4. In specialised techniquesThe need to develop the analytical skills of their statistical staff was identified by both SBS and MAF. Forexample, the Ministry’s Policy, Planning and Communications Division identified the need to be able toanalyse and assess overall agricultural performance, including cross-sectorial issues, i.e. livestock grazingv crop production (taro plantings).

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REFERENCES

Central Bank of Samoa, Foreign Trade Report, July 2013.Central Bank of Samoa, Quarterly Bulletin, June 2013.FAO: Regional Office for the Asia and Pacific, Samoa Profile of Country Capacity to Produce Agriculturaland Rural Statistics, 2011FAO: Regional Office for the Asia and Pacific, Asia-Pacific Regional Action Plan to Improve Agriculturaland Rural Statistics, published 2013. (?)FAO: Sub-Regional Office for the Pacific Islands - Implementation of the Agriculture Sector Plan -Aligning Policies and Strategies, January 2012.FAO: Sub-Regional Office for the Pacific Islands, Agriculture Data - Report on a scoping study in six PacificIsland Countries, published November 2010.FAO: Pacific Multi-Country Country Programming Framework (CPF) Document 2013 – 2017, publishedDecember 2012.FAO/UN/World Bank, Action Plan of the Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics,2012.FAO: Framework for Assessing Country Capacity to Produce Agricultural and Rural Statistics,Development Series 1a, 2013.FAO: Framework for Assessing Country Capacity to Produce Agricultural and Rural Statistics,Development Series 1b, 2013 (unpublished).Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Agriculture Sector Plan, 2011-2015, Volume 1.Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Agriculture Sector Plan, 2011-2015, Volume 2.Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Annual Meat Marketing Report, July 2011 – June 2012, publishedMarch 2013.Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Fisheries Division Annual Report, July 2010 – June 2011, publishedSeptember 2011.Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Fruit and Vegetables Baseline Survey Form 2013, unpublished.Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Samoa Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Project (SACEP),Project Implementation Manual, Section 2: Livestock Production and Marketing, published February 2013.Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Samoa Cattle Census 2012, Final Data Analysis Report, publishedMay 2013.Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Village Consultations Report, unpublished. (?)Ministry of Finance, Strategy for the Development of Samoa, 2012–2016, published July 2012.Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, National Environment and Development Sector Plan(NESP), 2013-2016, published June 2013.Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Samoa’s State of the Environment (SOE) Report 2013,published 2013.Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Sustainable agriculture: how do we get there in Samoa?Author: Aaron Kama.

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Samoa Bureau of Statistics, Agriculture Census Analytical Report 2009, published 2012.Samoa Bureau of Statistics, Agriculture Census 2009 Tabular Report, published 2010.Samoa Bureau of Statistics, Corporate Plan 2008-2012.Samoa Bureau of Statistics, Expression of Interest to Join Global Strategy Regional Action Plan.Samoa Bureau of Statistics, Gross Domestic Product, September 2013 Quarter, published December 2013.Samoa Bureau of Statistics, Local Market Survey, December 2013, published January 2014.Samoa Bureau of Statistics, Population and Housing Census 2011 Analytical Report, published October2012.Samoa Bureau of Statistics, Population and Housing Census 2011 Tabular Report v.1, published July 2012.Samoa Bureau of Statistics, Samoa Strategy for the Development of Statistics, 2011-2021, published 2012.Samoa Bureau of Statistics, Statistical Abstract, 2011.Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Aquaculture Section, Samoa Aquaculture Management andDevelopment Plan, 2013–2018, published 2012Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Pacific Island Countries and Territories Major StatisticalCollections, 2012 – 2017 (updated September 2012).Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), SPC climate change and disaster risk management supportactivities in Pacific Island countries and territories, 2013.Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) Samoa, Agriculture Sector Profile, 2010.World Bank/FAO/UN, Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics, Report No. 56719-GLB, September 2010, published 2011.World Bank, Samoa Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Project, P115351.

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ANNEX I

MAJOR AGRICULTURAL DATA COLLECTION ACTIVITIES

1. Agricultural CensusData collecting agency SBSData collection frequency Each ten years: last census in 2009; next census planned for2019.Data collection methodology Data collected directly from all households, using face to faceinterviews.Data collection staff SBS and temporary enumerator workforceSample size (if applicable) Detailed crop information collected from 25% sample ofcropping households.Sample selection (if applicable) Systematic sample basis (every fourth holding selected).Variables Household demographics; type of agricultural activity;livestock numbers by type, including numbers slaughtered orsold; fisheries activity; farm equipment/machinery;consumption of major crops;forestry plantings; land use and tenure; non-household labourinputs; household agricultural income and credit; fertiliser andchemical use; crop area grown and harvested by crop type; treeand plant numbers by crop typeData processing Computer processing by SBS.Data dissemination Analytical Report and Tabular Report, both in pdf format,published on SBS website (www.sbs.gov.ws).Level of disaggregation available National; Census Region and District.Timeliness of data release The detailed Analytical and Tabulation Reports were bothreleased in January 2012, approximately 26 months after datacollection in November 2009.Latest data available (at October 2014) 2009 data available.

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ANNEX I (cont.)

2. Population and Housing CensusData collecting agency SBS.Data collection frequency Each five years: last census in 2011; next census planned forNovember 2016.Data collection methodology Data collected directly from all households, using face to faceinterviews.Data collection staff SBS, Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (MESC) andtemporary enumerator workforceSample size n.a.Sample selection n.a.Variables Household demographics, including education level, literacy,employment (occupation and industry), land tenure, waterand sanitation, household facilities, transport and livestocktotals (cattle, pigs, poultry).Data processing Computer processing by SBS.Data dissemination A detailed Census Analytical Report and Tabulation Report(version 2) in October 2012.Tabular data were disseminated in both pdf and Excel formatson the SBS website.Level of disaggregation available National; Census Region and District.Timeliness of data release A Preliminary count report, which included population countsof regions, districts and villages, was released on 16 December2011, six weeks after the official Census enumeration date of 7November 2011.A Tabulation Report (version one) was released eight monthsafter the preliminary count report in August 2012. Final datareleased October 2012, 11 months after data collection.Latest data available (at October 2014) 2011 data available.Comments/Evaluation/Issues/Potential forexpansion or linking with other programmes: Regular Census activity and potential to expand range ofagricultural information collected to complement ten-yearlyAgricultural Census.

45

ANNEX I (cont.)

3. Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES)Data collecting agency SBS.Data collection frequency Each five years: last HIES conducted in 2013/14; next plannedfor 2018.Data collection methodology Face to face interviews and self-enumeration diary completionover 14 day period.Data collection staff SBS workforceSample size Approximately 2,800 households selected, 10% sample of allhouseholds.Sample selection Data collected directly from approx. 700 households (25%sub-sample) per quarter over four quarters. Independent sub-sample each quarter. The sampling technique used for the2013 HIES was a stratified single stage cluster design. The firststage involved the selection of the Enumeration Area (EA)using Probability Proportional to Size (PPS) while the secondstage involved the selection of a fixed cluster size.Variables 2013 HIES included household demographics, primary andsecondary activities, dwelling details, household expendituresand overseas remittances, individual expenditures, incomeand loans, information on agriculture, fishing and forestryactivities, including income derived from main crop andvegetable production, livestock, horticulture and floricultureactivities.Data processing Computer processing by SBS.Data dissemination 2013 HIES currently (at June 2014) in data entry mode.Level of disaggregation available National; Census Region.Timeliness of data release 2013 HIES tabulated data expected to be released in December2014.Latest data available (at October 2014) 2008 data available.Comments/Evaluation/Issues/Potential forexpansion or linking with other programmes: The HIES is a regular survey activity and potential to expandrange of agricultural information collected to complement ten-yearly Agricultural Census.

46

ANNEX I (cont.)

4. Cattle Census 2012Data collecting agency MAF Animal Production and Health DivisionData collection frequency Ad hoc: last survey in 2012.Data collection methodology Data collected directly from households with cattle.Data collection staff MAFSample size (if applicable) 2,903 households with cattle enumeratedSample selection (if applicable) Sample selected from 2009 Agricultural Census list frame ofall households with cattle.Variables Geographic coordinates of owners' homes and location ofcattle holdings, number and breeds of cattle, herd structure,presence of cattle yards with loading ramps, condition ofaccess roads, frequency of slaughter and markets to whichslaughtered animals were sold, amount of money spent byfarmers on slaughtering animals and transporting carcasses.Data processing Computer processing by MAF.Data dissemination Data analysis report in pdf format. Not available from MAFwebsite.Level of disaggregation available Released at National; Census Region and District levels.Timeliness of data release Data released May 2013, approx. 12 months after end of datacollection.Comments/Evaluation/Issues/Potential forexpansion or linking with other programmes: Known discrepancies with 2009 Agricultural Census and 2011Population Census cattle data. Suggest that future surveys ofthis nature be jointly undertaken by SBS and MAF, particularlythe enumeration phase.

47

ANNEX I (cont.)

5. Fruit & Vegetable Survey, 2013Data collecting agency MAF Crops DivisionData collection frequency Ad hoc: last survey in 2013.Data collection methodology Data collected directly from households.Data collection staff MAFSample size (if applicable) 1,700 households (recommended sample 2,000 households)Sample selection (if applicable) Mixed frame, collected from Advisory Services / agents inSamoa, such as MWCSD, MAF (Crops Advisory Service,Agriculture Show registrations and competitions), Women inBusiness Development Inc. (WIBDI), SBEC, SFA (SamoaFarmers Association), Adventist Disaster Relief Agency(ADRA).Variables Vegetable and fruit crops grown and sold, land area, landtenure, land use, method of cultivation, irrigation method andwater source, production information, including source ofseedlings, plants, cost and information sources, fertilizer andchemical use, volumes and expenditure, labour inputs, loansand credit, farm equipment owned, hired or borrowed.Data processing Computer processing by MAF.Data dissemination Data not yet disseminated (as at November 2014).Level of disaggregation available Expected at National; Census Region and District levels.Timeliness of data release Data was initially expected to be released early 2014, approx.12 months after data collection, but was still not available inNovember 2014.Comments/Evaluation/Issues/Potential forexpansion or linking with other programmes: Used of mixed (random?) sample frame casts some doubt onthe validity of final data.

48

ANNEX I (cont.)

6. Fisheries Market SurveyData collecting agency MAF Fisheries DivisionData collection frequency Weekly (3 days per week from markets and weekly fromroadside stalls between Apia and Airport).Data collection methodology Data collected directly from market and roadside stallholders.Data collection staff MAFSample size (if applicable) UnknownSample selection (if applicable) All market and roadside stallholders.Variables Catch levels for both offshore and coastal fisheries.Data processing Computer processing by MAF, with assistance from SPC.Data dissemination Advised that monthly reports are disseminated via SPCwebsite, however this author was unable to locate any catchdata post-2007.Level of disaggregation available NationalTimeliness of data release MonthlyLatest data available (at October 2014) To be confirmedComments/Evaluation/Issues/Potential forexpansion or linking with other programmes:

49

ANNEX II

PROPOSED CORE DATA FOR SAMOA

StatisticalDomain

Items Geographicalcoverage

Units collected Frequency Source Remarks

ECONOMIC DATAProduction CropsCoconut District Area, production,yield Annual Agri.Survey orCensus(SBS)

Productionand yieldarecurrentgaps, asnotcollected.Area datacollectedeach 10years.Taro District Area, production,yield Annual Agri.Survey orCensus(SBS) dittoBanana District Area, production,yield Annual Agri.Survey orCensus(SBS) dittoCocoa District Area, production,yield Annual Agri.Survey orCensus(SBS) dittoTa’amu District Area, production,yield Annual Agri.Survey orCensus(SBS) dittoBreadfruit District Area, production,yield Annual Agri.Survey orCensus(SBS) dittoTaloPalagi District Area, production,yield Annual Agri.Survey orCensus(SBS) dittoLivestockMeat National by cattle/pigs/chickens/sheep Production,yield? Annual Agri.Survey orCensus(SBS);MAFAPHD

Limitedmeat datacurrentlycollected.Other LivestockProducts Bee hives/honey/Eggs/milk Number,production Five-yearly Agri.Survey orCensus(SBS)

Identifiedby MAFAPHD as acurrentdata gap.FisheriesMarine fisheries National Production Annual MAFFisheries Quarterly

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StatisticalDomain

Items Geographicalcoverage

Unitscollected

Frequency Source Remarks

Production(cont.) AquacultureInland/aquaculturefisheries National Areacultured,Production Five-yearly Agri. Census(SBS)? Current gap. Is5 yearlyadequate?ForestryForestry: wood National Area underforests,Productionof wood

Annual MNRE DatacurrentlyavailableForestry: non-wood National Productionof Non-woodproductsAnnual MNRE Datacurrentlyavailable

ExternalTrade

Exports of crop,livestock andfisheries products National Quantityand value Monthly Samoa Customs DatacurrentlyavailableImports of meat,fruit and vegetableproducts National Quantityand value Monthly Samoa Customs Datacurrentlyavailable.MAF APHDhave queriedwhetherpossible toidentifyintendedpurpose ofimportedmeat, i.e. forcommercialsale or ownconsumption.Stock ofcapitalresources

Land cover and use National Area Annual Agri. Survey orCensus (SBS)and MNRE Land cover isa data gap,some landuseinformationcollectedeach 10years.Economicallyactive persons District (ruralareas) Number ofpersons Five-yearly Pop. Census(SBS) Is thisneededmoreregularly?

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StatisticalDomain

Items GeographicalCoverage

Unitscollected

Frequency Source Remarks

Stock ofcapitalresources(cont)

Cattle, pigs,chickens and sheep District Number ofanimals Annual Cattle - Pop.Census (SBS),Other livestock –HIES (SBS)Total cattlenumberscollected each5 years,detailed cattledemographicsand otherlivestock 10yearly. MAFAPHD havestated that abreakdown ofpig andchickenbreedingstock (genderand age) isrequired.

AgriculturalInputs

Agriculturalmachinery:tractors, harvestersseedersDistrict Numbersofmachineryitems;numbers offarmhouseholdsusing themachinery.

Decennial Agri.Census/Survey(SBS) Currently 10yearly –needed moreregularly?

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StatisticalDomain

Items GeographicalCoverage

Unitscollected

Frequency Source Remarks

AgriculturalInputs (cont.) Water usedforagriculturalpurposes

National bysource(District levelpreferred?)Quantity Decennial Agri. Census/Survey (SBS) Quantity acurrent gap.Is dataneededmoreregularly?Fertilizer use National bycrop type andfertilizer type(District leveland non-standardgeographiespreferred?)

Quantity andvalue Decennial Agri. Census/Survey (SBS) Value acurrent gap.Is dataneededmoreregularly?Pesticide use National bypesticide type(District leveland non-standardgeographiespreferred?)

Quantity andvalue Decennial Agri. Census/Survey (SBS) ditto

Seeds National bycrop type andseed type Quantity andvalue Decennial Agri. Census/Survey (SBS) Current gapAnimal feedpurchased National byanimal typeand feed type Quantity andvalue Decennial Agri. Census/Survey (SBS) Current gap

Agro-processing

Crop productsused inprocessingfoodNational bycrop type Quantity Annual ?

Livestockproducts usedin processingfoodNational bylivestock type Number Annual ?

Prices Farm-gateprices National bycorecrops/livestock/fisheriesAverage price Monthly ? Current gap

Consumerprices National bycrop/livestock/fisheries productsAverage price Monthly SBS, MAF(AHPD), MAF(FisheriesDiv.)

CurrentlyavailableFinalexpenditure

Governmentexpenditureon agricultureand ruraldevelopmentNational bysub-sector Amount Annual Budgetdocuments Check withMinistry ofFinance

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StatisticalDomain

Items GeographicalCoverage

Unitscollected

Frequency Source Remarks

Finalexpenditure(cont.) Agriculturalsubsidies National bysub-sector Amount Annual Budgetdocuments Ditto

Governmentexpenditure onfisheries National bysub-sector Amount Annual Budgetdocuments dittoHouseholdconsumption ofcore crops/livestock/fisheries products

National Quantityand value Three-yearly HIES (SBS) Currentlycollectedfive yearlyRural infra-structure

Area equippedfor irrigation National(District levelpreferred?) Area Annual Current gap.Is it neededannually?Rural roads National(District levelpreferred?) km Annual Current gap.Is it neededannually?Internationaltransfer

Officialdevelopmentassistance foragriculture andruraldevelopmentNational Value Annual Budgetdocuments Check withMinistry ofFinance

SOCIAL DATADemographics of urbanand ruralpopulation

Sex by age District No. ofpersons Five yearly Pop. Census(SBS) CurrentlyavailableHouseholdcomposition bysex District No. ofpersons Five yearly Pop. Census(SBS) dittoHighest level ofeducation National by sex No. ofpersons Five yearly Pop. Census(SBS) dittoLabour forcestatus (employed,unemployed, notin labour force)

National by sex No. ofpersons Annual Current gap– LabourForceSurveyundertakeneach 5 yearsStatus inemployment(self-employed,employee)National by sex No. ofpersons Annual ditto

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StatisticalDomain

Items GeographicalCoverage

Unitscollected

Frequency Source Remarks

Demographics of urbanand ruralpopulation(cont.)

Economic sectorof employment National by sex No. ofpersons Annual Currentgap – noLabourForceSurvey.Collectedin 5yearlyPopCensusOccupation ofemployment National by sex No. ofpersons Annual dittoHouseholdincome District Value Three-yearly HIES (SBS) CurrentlyfiveyearlyNumber of hiredworkers on farmholdings National by sex No. ofpersons Decennial Agri.Census(SBS) CurrentlyavailableHousingconditions District No. ofdwellings Five yearly Pop. andHousingCensus(SBS)ditto

ENVIRONMENTAL STATISTICSLand Soil degradation National(District level and non-standard geographiespreferred?)

Area SpecialstudiesWater Water pollutiondue to agriculture National(District level and non-standard geographiespreferred?)

Pollutionparts permillion(ppm)Specialstudies Fertilizer/chemicaluse incatchment regions– Agri.Census?

Air Emissions due toagriculture National GHG SpecialstudiesGEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONGIScoordinates

Administrativeunits National, District, Village Five yearly Population/Agri.Census(SBS)Currentgap?

Parcels Five yearly Population/Agri.Census(SBS)ditto

Degree ofurbanization

Classification of Districtsby urban and rural Five yearly Pop.Census(SBS) Currentlyavailable,checkhow oftenrevised

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ANNEX III

SWOT MATRIX - STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSESSamoa has developed a sound foundation for its NSDS withthe Ministry’s Agriculture Sector Plan and the SBS SamoaStrategy for the Development of Statistics, 2011-21, all linkedto the Government's overarching Strategy for theDevelopment of Samoa, 2012-16.

No regular agricultural survey program currently exists tocollect crop production, livestock numbers, inputs toproduction, environmental impacts of agricultural activity etc.Ten yearly intervals is totally inadequate.There is general stakeholder support and enthusiasm for theGlobal Strategy project. The lack of analysis and value adding of agriculture datarepresents a serious weakness to evidence-based planning andpolicy making.SBS has a well-established decennial Census of Agriculture(years ending in ‘9’) and five-yearly Population and HousingCensus (years ending in ‘1’ and ‘6’). Weak data for monitoring food and nutrition security.Population Census frames have been used for subsequentAgricultural census and surveys. SBS has a well-structured System of National Accounts, howeverinputs for the agriculture sector are often based on limited ordated information.Due to the lack of regular survey activity, there are noapparent duplication of efforts in data collection. The lack of financial resources in SBS is a serious constraint toimproving the agriculture statistical system in Samoa,specifically a regular and sustainable survey program.The technical skills of both SBS and MAF agricultural statisticsstaff need further development, particularly in the areas ofsurvey methodologies, sample survey design and conduct andanalytical skills.Some of the recent agriculture surveys conducted by theMinistry of Agriculture lack the rigour of sound samplingmethods and enumeration practices.Differences in data results have impacted on organisation anduser confidence, i.e. cattle numbers.Data dissemination is generally poor. SBS data is generallyreleased in pdf format only, with no accompanying tabularspreadsheets (i.e. Excel). MAF website contains little data andwhat is released is quite dated. MAF survey data are notpublicly released; hence there is a lack of awareness andunderstanding of survey results in other agencies andorganisations.Working relationships between SBS and some MAF Divisionsare not operating as cooperatively or effectively as they could.Whilst generally respectful, partnerships are not consideredstrong and there is a need for clarification on roles andresponsibilities, particularly in regard to survey activity.Lack of field staff in MAFFishery surveys are mostly conducted by the Ministry ofAgriculture and Fisheries. Could be over-surveying in terms oftheir market and roadside stall survey activities.

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OPPORTUNITIES THREATSBuild on the genuine support of SBS and the variousDivisions in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for theGlobal Strategy to improve agricultural and rural statisticsand to adopt sound statistical practices and methodologiesfor estimating crop and livestock production and otherrelated information.Heavy reliance on donor financial support and a lack ofdomestic funding will significantly inhibit the implementationand sustainability of a regular agricultural statistical system inSamoa.

To develop stronger partnerships between SBS, MAF andother data suppliers and users. MAF or SBS may be unwilling to work cooperatively in futuresurvey activity, instead preferring to work independently.Consider staff exchanges between SBS and MAF or out-posting of experienced SBS staff to MAF when undertakingany survey activities. Similarly MAF people could be out-posted to SBS to assist with Agricultural Census/Surveyplanning and operations, including analysis anddissemination phases.Relevant ministries may not have the staff capacity andexpertise to successfully implement or manage any proposedagricultural statistics system.

FAO has committed resources through its TechnicalCooperation Programme to provide capacity buildingsupport to improve sector data collection and managementsystems, policy analysis and economic analysis of farmingsystems and value chains in Samoa. FAO have identifiedpolicy work and strategic planning will also be a focus areafor the fisheries and forestry subsectors.

FAO or SPC technical assistance and support may be directed toother issues or focussed on other countries.

Samoa continues to receive World Bank and non-bankfinancial support for the Samoa Agriculture CompetitivenessEnhancement Project, through to 2017. Opportunity tosecure some of this funding for SACEP monitoring andevaluation.Opportunity to develop a strategic long-term vision foragricultural and rural statistics, which incorporates a viablecalendar of statistical collection activities to supportimproved availability and quality of data.Opportunity to introduce new technologies which mayreduce survey operation costs, i.e. hand-held devices torecord household responses.The ability to generate agricultural survey or census data fornon-standard geographical regions would be a usefuldevelopment. Agencies such as MNRE have reportingresponsibilities for various topographical or geographicregions, which are not consistent with the standard censusregions or administrative districts.

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ANNEX IV

LIST OF MAIN STAKEHOLDERS IN SAMOAStakeholder Interest Perception of Problem Resources MandateSamoa Bureau ofStatistics - NationalStatistical Office

Key data producer,currently undertakesall regular Census andSurvey activities,including Populationand Housing Census,Agricultural Census,Household Incomeand ExpenditureSurvey, Labour ForceSurvey. Also producesNational Accounts,GovernmentAccounts, CPI.

Limited professionaland technical supportstaffing resourcesavailable for statisticalactivities a significantconstraint. Turnover ofprofessional staffidentified as a relevantconstraint. Limited resources toundertake anyadditional surveyactivity. Requires assistancewith sample surveydesign and conduct

Has approx. 70professional staffengaged instatisticalactivities. Two professionalstatistical staff andfive technicalsupport staffallocated toagriculturalstatistics, but alsohave trade,household incomeand expenditure aswell as transportsubject matterresponsibilities. Limitedadministrativeresources tosupport fieldsurvey activities

SBS was re-established asautonomousAgency in 2008by an Act ofParliament. Statistics Act1971 requiresthat SBS will actas the Govt.agency forcollection,processing,analysis anddissemination ofstatisticalinformationrelated to socio-economic anddemographicstructure of thecountry.

Ministry ofAgriculture andFisheries (as dataproducer)

MAF is the peakagricultural policymaking body inSamoa responsible forthe formulation andimplementation ofnational agriculturalpolicies anddevelopment plans.Has four mainDivisions: Crop Division; Animal Productionand Health Division; Fisheries Division;and Policy, Planning andCommunicationsDivision (includesSACEP)Statistical activitiesare carried out in therespective Divisions.

Require more frequentand timely enumerationof livestock and fruit andvegetable data as ten yearperiod betweenAgricultural Censuses isfar too long.PPCD identified followingconstraints to agriculturalstatistics in the followingareas: Transport equipmentfor field activities(dominant constraint); Number of professionalstaff for statisticalpurposes (dominantconstraint); Number of technicalsupport staff (dominantconstraint); Information technologyhardware (dominantconstraint); Information technologysoftware (dominantconstraint); Availability of funds forfield-oriented statisticalactivities vis-à-vis plans(dominant constraint); Low level of demand for

Heavily reliant ondonor support toundertakestatisticalactivities. Has approx. 70staff in each oftheir Livestock-APHD andFisheriesDivisions, 214staffincluding casualsin their CropsDivision and 11staff in their Policy,Planning andCommunicationsDivision. Fisheries Divisionhas sixprofessional levelstaff and eighttechnical supportstaff involved inthe production offisheries statistics. Crops andLivestock-APHDDivisions havevery few peoplewhose specific roleis to produceagricultural

MAF has keyresponsibilityfor agriculturedevelopment inSamoa throughits planning andpolicy activities.MAF has leadresponsibilityfor delivery ofstrategiesoutlined in theAgricultureSector Plan2011-2015.

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statistics (significantconstraint); Technical skills ofstatistical staff(significant constraint); Sound methodologyimplemented foragricultural surveys(significant constraint);and Office equipment(significant constraint).Crops Division identifiedthe turnover ofprofessional staff as theonly dominant constraint,with other constraintsconsidered of less impact.The Division alsorequested a review of thelegal framework toauthorize relevantministries andorganizations for theimplementation ofagriculture statistics. TheCrop Division identifiedimproved collaborationwith SBS, availability offunding and capacitybuilding in SBS and lineministries and theimportance of awareness& utilization of accurateagriculture statistics fordecision makers andoverall economicdevelopments.The Livestock-APHDDivision did not assessany issues as having agreater impact than‘somewhat’ of aconstraint, however itidentified that thereshould be adequatefunding available at thedivisional level in order tofacilitate more livestockand meat statistical work.Also training should beprovided for keypersonnel in statisticaltechniques and analyticalcapacity.Fisheries Division did notcomplete the Constraintssection in theirquestionnaire response.

statistics.

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Ministry of NaturalResources andEnvironment(MNRE)

MNRE both a datauser and dataproducer/collector. Ituses data fromvarious sources,including SBS, MAFand other sources inthe monitoring andevaluation of its NESP(NationalEnvironment &Development SectorPlan).

State of Environment(SOE) reporting gaps,although some data maybe available in otheragencies but not releasedpublicly.Require trend data,therefore regularity andsustainability of data iscritical.

Not provided Data priority is tomeet theMinistry’s State ofEnvironment(SOE) reportingrequirements,assessment ofrelationshipbetweenagriculture sectorand other sectorsand impact ofagriculturalactivities onenvironment, i.e.land use,cultivation,fertilizer use bytype, forestryreplanting, fruittrees etc.The Ministry’sForestry Divisionis responsible forthe sustainabledevelopment andmanagement offorest resourcesacross Samoa.Ministry of Women,Community andSocial Development(MWCSD)

Both a data user anddata producer andthrough its Division ofInternal Affairsoversees a network ofvillagerepresentatives whocollect and provideinformation on amonthly basis,through theirperformancemanagement system(PMS).

The Ministry reportedlimitations in the capacityof village representativesto collect data and theneed for capacity buildingon data management,including setting upcentral databases. TheMinistry is currentlylooking to merge the PMSof all their divisionswithin a larger Ministry-wide Monitoring andEvaluation framework.From a data userperspective, MWCSDspecifically usesinformation from MAFFisheries Division andGender and Disabilitydata from the SBSPopulation and HousingCensus.It identified the need forannual village level dataon agricultural produce,production of fruit andvegetables, livestock byowner, cattle numbers,number of informal

Not provided Ministry capturestrends in severalareas of villagerepresentatives'mandates,but mostlyagriculture, suchas patterns ofagriculturalproduction in ruralareas (includescrop informationby type,production orarea plantedinformation is notcollected).

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agricultural workers, andthe number of villageswith tar sealed accessroads (access roads inlandto plantations).Ministry of Finance Key activities andresponsibilities of theMinistry include:

Produce, implementand monitor theAnnual Budget ofthe government. Monitor all stateowned enterprises(such as the WaterAuthority and theElectric PowerCorporation). Develop nationaleconomic strategiesand plans.Ministry has played akey role in theintroduction of thevarious AgencySector Plans. It usesdata from various SBSand MAF economicsurveys to assessperformance of the14 sectors ofeconomy againsttheir sector plans. Itnoted specifically theimportance ofreinvigorating theAgriculture Sector, asthis is seen as key tothe Samoa’s economicfuture, along with theTourism Sector.

The Sector approach toplanning is in its earlystages, but is movingforward. The need fordata to support and assessperformance is important,particularly at theMinistry has plans tomove to outcome-basedbudgeting for theGovernment sector.

Not provided Main planningbody within theSamoa Govt. andits CEO is theprimaryeconomic andfinancial adviserto cabinet andgovernment.

Ministry of Revenue Internally collecteddata is extractedmonthly formanagement reportsand quarterly forconsideration byCabinet.Uses data to assesseconomicperformance andcoverage of potentialrevenue sources.

The Ministry is interestedin individual data onregistered commercialfishers and farmers fromSBS, but aware ofconfidentiality provisionswhich prevent disclosureof this information.

Not provided The Ministry ispart of theFinance Sectorand its mainfunction isrevenuecollection, bothInland Revenuetaxes andCustoms taxes,duties etc.

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Central Bank ofSamoa (CBS)

Major user ofeconomic data,including the LocalProduce MarketSurvey (SBS), Importdata (from SBS tradedata), Export data(from their ownExport License FormE), Commercial Banksand Non-FinancialInstitutions Lending(Development Bankof Samoa) by sectoralbreakdown, Nationalaccounts andAgriculturecontribution to GDP(SBS) and theConsumer Price Index(SBS).CBS is also a majorproducer of data,using own andexternal data sources.Produces monthlyForeign Trade Report,Selected EconomicIndicator Report,Inflation Review andMonetary Surveyreports, as well asQuarterly Bulletinsand adhoc EconomicUpdates for Cabinetand other nationalmeetings etc.

The Central Bankidentified a number ofdata gaps which itconsidered neededaddressing, including: Exports – Gaps arecoverage issues likedifference in CBS,Custom’s andQuarantine sources Imports – Difficult toalign CBS exports tablewith the HS(HarmonizedCommodity Descriptionand Coding System)headings and codes. Market survey –coverage issues andwhether current marketsurvey is a trueindicator of overallagricultural productionin the country. CPI – Underlying or coreinflation measure.Current measureexcludes almost 51percent of the basket(seasonal andGovernment-controlledprices). National accounts -Need to update themethodology. IMF havehighlighted thatcontribution of tourism(and agriculturepossibly) areundervalued whileother sectors are quitehigh.

Not provided CBS isresponsible forformulating andimplementingmonetary policy.

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Samoa Chamber ofCommerce andIndustry Inc.

The Chamber utilisesinformation from thePopulation Censusand Labour MarketSurvey to gain anunderstanding ofdemographics andlabour market activityat a regional level.Also uses variouseconomic updatesreleased by SBS, MAFand the Central Bankof Samoa inunderstanding theeconomicimplications forSamoa businesses. Ituses these data toassist the SamoaFarmers Associationin implementation ofthe Agriculture SectorPlan.

Issue with age andrelevance of data wasidentified, as usefulnessdiminishes after 2 – 3years followingcollections.The Chamber alsosuggested that thedissemination of datacould be improved. Anexample provided wasthat Trade data shouldalso be released in bothExcel and pdf formats.

Not provided The Chamber ofCommerce andIndustry is anassociation ofbusinesses,corporations,industryassociations andbusiness peoplerepresenting inthe very broadestsense, the PrivateSector BusinessCommunity inSamoa.By presenting thecollective viewsof its members toGovernment, theChamber seeks tocontribute to and,in a constructiveway, influencethe formulationof nationaleconomic policieswhich lead to: the promotionof sustainablegrowth the creation ofnew investmentandemploymentopportunitiesan environmentthat supportsbusiness growth

Small BusinessEnterprise CentreSamoa (SBEC)

SBEC is both a datauser and datacollector. It regularlyuses Population andAgricultural Censuses,Business Surveys andother available datafrom SBS and MAF inthe assessment ofsmall businesslending applicationsand guarantees. Italso analyses the linksbetween data fromthe Agricultural andPopulation Censuses.It conducts surveysfor every sector. TheAgriculture SectorSurvey questionssmall business clients

Infrequency and age ofdata was identified as alimitation.Up to date business datais critical to their work.Not provided SBEC is a semi-Governmentorganizationestablished toencourage thedevelopment ofsmall business inSamoa. Itprovides financialincentives fornew businesses,generally 1-2years after set-up.

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about how othersectors rely onagriculture, i.e. theavailability andquality of farmproduce torestaurants, timber tofurnituremanufacturing etc.Development Bankof Samoa (DBS)

DBS regularly usesexisting data fromvarious sources,including SBS, MAF,Central Bank ofSamoa and the SamoaTourism Associationto gain anunderstanding of themarket situationwhen assessingcommercialdevelopment lendingapplications.Agricultural Censusdata are utilised forappraisingagriculturalapplications.

The availability of timelydata including detailedagricultural data everyten years, was identifiedas a limitation to theBank’s assessmentprocesses.The Bank identified thatlivestock and rural/urbanintegration statisticswould greatly assist theirwork.

Approximately 110personnel arelocated in the Bank’sHead Office in Apia.DBS was formedin 1974 topromote theexpansion of theSamoan economyby making loansand givingfinancial,technical andadvisoryassistance toenterprises inSamoa.

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ANNEX V

ORGANOGRAMS OF MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS

Samoa Bureau of Statistics

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries

Chief Executive Officer

Minister’sAdvisory

Committee

ANIMALPRODUCTIONAND HEALTH

DIVISION

FISHERIESDIVISION

QUARANTINEDIVISION

POLICY, PLANNINGAND

COMMUNICATIONDIVISION

CORPORATESERVICEDIVISION

CROPSDIVISION

MINISTER

ACEOICT & DataProcessing

ACEOCorporateServicesDivision

ACEOEconomicsStatisticsDivision

Government Statistician

ACEOFinanceStatisticsDivision

ACEOSocial andEnvironmentStatisticsDivision

ACEOCensus &SurveyDivision

ACEOBirthDeaths &MarriagesRegistryDivision

MINISTER

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ANNEX VI

Samoa Country Capacity Indicators – July 8, 2014Note: Indicator scores are calculated on a scale of 0 – 100, where a score of 100 meets all the defined criteria.Score Notes Graph

Indicator I: Institutional Infrastructure 761.1 Legal Framework 100 The Statistics Act of 1971 provides the legal basis forstatistical activities in the country in general. The executiveagency for statistical activities in general is Samoa Bureauof Statistics and the legal basis is operational.1.2 Coordination in the NSS 0 There exists no legal mechanism for coordination ofagricultural and rural statistics.1.3 Strategic Vision and planning for agriculturalstatistics 100 There exists an Agriculture Sector Plan 2011-2015 that isintegrated into the NSDS.1.4 Integration of agriculture in the NSS 90 Samoa has developed an Agriculture Sector Plan 2011-2015 that covers crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry andcross cutting issues in land use, gender, youth, environmentand climate change adaptation.1.5 Relevance of Data 90 There exists an official forum for dialogue betweensuppliers and users of agricultural/fisheries statistics inwhich bi-annual (coastal) and quarterly (offshore)meetings are conducted. There also exists a well-established channel for receiving feedback throughregional websites and emails. These channels ofcommunication between data suppliers and users ofagricultural statistics are deemed to be adequate tomoderate depending on the use of data.

0204060801001.1 LegalFramework 1.2Coordination in theNSS1.3StrategicVision andplanningfor…1.4Integrationofagriculturein the NSS

1.5Relevanceof Data

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Indicator II: Resources3 332.1 Financial Resources 67 Both SBS and MAF have their own line budgets.

The SBS also noted that 80-100 percent of their activitiesrelated to agricultural statistics were funded from thegovernment budget; while the only 0 – 20 percent was fundedby the government budget at the Crops Department of theMAF.

2.2 Human resources: staffing 25 The SBS noted a total of seven professional and technical staffcovering statistical activities in general. Under MAF, there arealso 14 professional and technical staff involved in FisheriesStatistics.

2.3 Human resources: training 0 Under SBS, it was reported that there exists no officialgovernment program or training policy for agriculturalstatistics. It was however reported that there does exist atraining program under MAF (PPCD) and five professional andtechnical staff were trained in the previous 12 months.

2.4 Physical infrastructure 42 The availability of transport equipment for field statisticalactivities is rated as a dominant constraint for physicalinfrastructure. Office space was also noted as a relevantconstraint.

3 The resources indicator is representative of the situation in the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS)

0102030405060702.1FinancialResources

2.2 Humanresources:staffing2.3 Humanresources:training

2.4Physicalinfrastructure

67

Indicator III: Statistical methods and practices 553.1 Statistical software capability 83 Various Statistical software packages are utilized for

processing, analysis, and databases activities including: SPSS,ACCESS, CSPRO, and EXCEL. However, producers under theMOA were more likely to use EXCEL for data processing andanalysis.

3.2 Data collection technology 45 The SBS relies on paper based personal interviews and iseither entered manually into the computer or scanned forarchiving purposes. GPS technologies are also used whererelevant.

3.3 Information technology infrastructure 100 The computer to staff ratio is higher than 1 in the SBS. 2computers are available in SBS for agricultural statistics.

3.4 General statistical infrastructure 71 To support statistical activities, the following services areavailable: up-to-date digitized topographical maps, up-to-datelists of large active agricultural farms, enumerators areprovided with a printed map for data collection, and geo-coded statistical units.

3.5 Adoption of international standards 53 ISIC (Rev4, 4 digits), SITC (Rev4, 1 digit), HS (HS12, 8 digits),COICOP (2010, 9 digits) classifications are used.

3.6 General statistical activities 57 A variety of statistical activities are conducted including: aPopulation census, a consumer price index, a wholesale priceindex, and estimates of rural household income arepublished/ available. Up to date National Accounts andestimate of quarterly production from the agricultural sectorare however not available.

3.7 Agricultural market and price information 40 An index of wholesale or producer prices are published.Agricultural market prices are also collected and disseminatedcovering crops, and livestock according to the MAF.

3.8 Agricultural surveys 78 A variety of agricultural surveys are carried out in the countryrelating to crops, livestock, fishery, and water.

3.9 Analysis and use of data 20 The production account is used for the compilation ofeconomic accounts for the agriculture sectior. Estimates ofquarterly production from the agriculture sector are alsoprepared and published.

3.10 Quality consciousness 23 The probability sample, sampling errors, metadata, and microdata are compiled for some fishery surveys. Quality data is notavailable for other sub-sectors, i.e. crops and livestock.

0204060801003.1 Statisticalsoftwarecapability 3.2 Datacollectiontechnology3.3 Informationtechnologyinfrastructure3.4 Generalstatisticalinfrastructure3.5 Adoption ofinternationalstandards3.6 Generalstatisticalactivities3.7 Agriculturalmarket and priceinformation

3.8 Agriculturalsurveys3.9 Analysis anduse of data

3.10 Qualityconsciousness

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Indicator IV: Availability of statistical information 554.1 Core data availability 51 30 items of the minimum set of core indicators are covered

with deficiencies in the availability of data for aquaculture,agricultural inputs, agro-processing, rural infrastructure, andthe environment.

4.2 Timeliness 0 The modal year of availability of all items produced from theminimum set of core indicators is 2009

4.3 Overall data quality perception 100 The modal quality score of all items produced from theminimum set of core indicators is “Highly Reliable” amongitems asked. For items covered by the mandate of MAF Cropshowever, it is noted that the modal quality score was deemed“Acceptable” or “Workable”. Concerns on the quality oflivestock data were also raised by MAF Livestock Division.

4.4 Data accessibility 100 The SBS has a website for hosting official statistics and isaccessible to external users on the internet.

0204060801004.1 Coredataavailability

4.2Timeliness4.3 Overalldataqualityperception

4.4 Dataaccessibility